Authors (including presenting author) :
Leung JSM (1), Lin HC (1), Po TF (1), Hui N (1)
Affiliation :
(1) Occupational Therapy Department, United Christian Hospital
Introduction :
Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome that raises increasing concern due to its positive correlation with adverse health outcomes, significantly associated with fall risk and lower health-related quality of life. Exercise is the gold standard for preventing and managing sarcopenia. Key factors affecting exercise adherence include characteristics of the exercise program, technology implementation, enjoyment and progress monitoring. Exergame, a blend of innovation and entertainment in physical exercise within a virtual setting may enhance motivation in elderly to engage in physical training. A 12-sessions of exergame program in addition to conventional Occupational Therapy training was piloted among patients with possible sarcopenia at Yung Fung Shee Geriatric Day Hospital since August, 2024.
Objectives :
To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of using exergame-based training delivered via The Nintendo Switch Ring Fit Adventure in enhancing functional performance and quality of life among elderly with possible sarcopenia in a GDH setting.
Methodology :
A randomized control pilot study was conducted from August to December 2024. Twenty-five patients (17 females and 8 males, mean age= 78.72 ±7.21 years) were recruited in this study. All participants met the criteria of 1) handgrip strength <28 kg for male and <18 kg for female, 2) SARC-F questionnaire ≥4 and 3) scoring >2nd percentile in Hong Kong version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (HK-MoCA). Twelve participants were assigned to conventional training group and thirteen participants were in exergame group with conventional training. The exergame comprised six different functional skill sets, including twisting torso, front press, overhead press, bow pull, stepping and legs lift, with training intensity tailored to each participant's functional capacity. Outcome was measured by muscle strength through power grip, SARC-F questionnaire for risk of sarcopenia, functional performance was assessed by fall efficacy and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and quality of life for sarcopenia questionnaire (SarQOL) was also evaluated.
Result & Outcome :
No significant between-group difference was found at baseline. Both groups of participants exhibited significant improvement in all outcome measures (p<.05). Moreover, a significant difference (p<.01) was shown in bilateral power grip, SARC-F questionnaire, fall efficacy and SarQOL between two groups, showing that incorporating exergame is more effective than conventional training alone. Feedback indicated that 92% of participants found the exergame experience satisfying, enjoyable, and motivating for training. Incorporating exergaming into conventional training can be beneficial for elderly with sarcopenia, leading to improvement in muscle strength, ADL independence, fall efficacy, and quality of life. The positive feedback from exergame participants reflected its potential to enhance patient’s engagement in training. Further studies with larger sample size are thus warranted.
