EFFECTS OF NINTENDO WII® TRAINING AND ECCENTRIC EXERCISES ON TREMOR IN PATIENTS WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE: PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Abstract

Background

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease, chronic and progressive, that produces signs such as tremors at rest, alteration in the functionality of upper limbs (MMSS), and cognitive decline, which impact the performance of activities of daily life. Eccentric exercises have been shown to reduce tremors in people with PD. Nintendo Wii exergames have been used in the rehabilitation of people with PD, promoting improvement in gait, balance, and cognition.

Objectives

To evaluate the effects of training using Nintendo Wii games in combination with exercises in the upper limb on tremors, upper limb functionality, and the cognition of patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD), compared to training exclusively composed of eccentric upper limb exercises.

Methods

This is a randomized, controlled, blinded clinical trial with a sample of 30 people with PD randomly allocated into two groups: Nintendo Wii group combined with eccentric exercises (n=15), who will do 20 minutes of eccentric exercises and 25 minutes of training with Nintendo Wii, and Exclusive eccentric exercises group (n=15), which will do only eccentric exercises for 45 minutes. Both groups will be trained for 8 consecutive weeks, twice a week, totaling 16 sessions. The groups will be evaluated before training, within 7 and 30 days after the end of training.

Results

It was verified in both groups: increase in handgrip strength tends; tremor reduction; improvement of the functional performance of the upper limbs; and improvement in cognitive performance.

Implications

The results of this study may contribute to a better understanding of the effectiveness of treatments focused on reducing tremor in patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.