Department of Clinical Sciences, Brunel University London, London, UK.
Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University London, London, UK.
J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2018 Mar 22;15(1):26. doi: 10.1186/s12984-018-0369-8.
Published reports suggest a disparity between perceived and actual balance abilities, a trait associated with increased fall-risk in older adults. We investigate whether it is possible to 'recalibrate' these disparities using a novel gaming intervention.
We recruited 26 older adults for a 4-week intervention in which they participated in 8-sessions using a novel gaming intervention designed to provide explicit, augmented feedback related to postural control. Measures of perceived balance abilities (Falls Efficacy Scale-International) and actual postural control (limits of stability) were assessed pre- and post-intervention. We used focus groups to elicit the opinions of participants about how the game may have influenced balance abilities and confidence.
A stronger alignment was observed between postural control and perceived balance capabilities post-intervention (i.e., significant correlations between Falls Efficacy Scale-International scores and limits of stability which were not present pre-intervention). Also, significant improvements in measures of postural control were observed, with these improvements confined to the aspects of postural control for which the exergame provided explicit, augmented feedback. Qualitative data revealed that the intervention made participants more "aware" of their balance abilities.
Our results demonstrate that it is possible to recalibrate the perceptions of older adults relating to their balance abilities through a targeted, short-term intervention. We propose that the post-intervention improvements in postural control may have been, in part, the result of this recalibration; with altered perceptions leading to changes in balance performance. Findings support the application of novel interventions aimed at addressing the psychological factors associated with elderly falls.
已发表的报告表明，老年人的感知平衡能力和实际平衡能力之间存在差异，而这种差异与跌倒风险增加有关。我们研究是否可以使用一种新的游戏干预来“重新校准”这些差异。
我们招募了 26 名老年人参加为期 4 周的干预，他们在 8 个会话中使用一种新的游戏干预，该干预旨在提供与姿势控制相关的明确、增强的反馈。在干预前后评估感知平衡能力（国际跌倒效能量表）和实际姿势控制（稳定性极限）。我们使用焦点小组来了解参与者对游戏如何影响平衡能力和信心的看法。
干预后观察到姿势控制和感知平衡能力之间更强的一致性（即国际跌倒效能量表得分与稳定性极限之间存在显著相关性，而干预前不存在这种相关性）。此外，还观察到姿势控制测量的显著改善，这些改善仅局限于游戏提供明确、增强反馈的姿势控制方面。定性数据表明，干预使参与者更加“意识到”自己的平衡能力。
我们的研究结果表明，通过有针对性的短期干预，可以重新校准老年人对其平衡能力的感知。我们提出，干预后姿势控制的改善可能部分是由于这种重新校准，因为感知的改变导致了平衡表现的改变。这些发现支持应用新的干预措施，以解决与老年人跌倒相关的心理因素。
