New research has found home-based video-game exercises can reduce chronic low back pain in older people by 27 percent, which is comparable to benefits gained under programs supervised by a physiotherapist. The study investigated the effectiveness of self-managed home-based video game exercises in people over 55 years using a Nintendo Wii-Fit-U.

Low back pain (LBP) is the most disabling and costly musculoskeletal condition worldwide with most of this burden among older people who develop chronic symptoms. Chronic LBP becomes more severe and disabling with age, and can have a significant impact on physical functioning such as balance, strength and walking speed. Participants practiced flexibility, strengthening and aerobic exercises for 60 minutes, three times per week at home without therapist supervision, and the effect of the 8-week video- game program was comparable to exercise programs completed under the supervision of a physiotherapist.

Structured exercise programs are recommended for the management of chronic LBP, but there is poor compliance to unsupervised home-exercises. The study, however, had high compliance to video-game exercises, with participants completing on average 85 per cent of the recommended sessions. Video-game exercises are interactive, have video and audio instructions, provide feedback on a patient’s technique and score the participants on the basis of their performance. These features are extremely motivating and likely explain why compliance to this program was much higher than other trials that have instructed patients to exercise without supervision.

Not into video games? Doctors of Chiropractic (Chiropractors) are experts in treating back pain with safe, gentle therapies perfect for older people.

Presented as a service to the community by: Union County Chiropractic Clinic, 110 Skyline Drive, Maynardville, TN (865) 992-7000 www.unioncountychiropractic.com.