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BMC Neurology
Published in: BMC Neurology 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

The effects of video game therapy on balance and attention in chronic ambulatory traumatic brain injury: an exploratory study

Authors: Sofia Straudi, Giacomo Severini, Amira Sabbagh Charabati, Claudia Pavarelli, Giulia Gamberini, Anna Scotti, Nino Basaglia

Published in: BMC Neurology | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

Patients with traumatic brain injury often have balance and attentive disorders. Video game therapy (VGT) has been proposed as a new intervention to improve mobility and attention through a reward-learning approach. In this pilot randomized, controlled trial, we tested the effects of VGT, compared with a balance platform therapy (BPT), on balance, mobility and selective attention in chronic traumatic brain injury patients.

Methods

We enrolled chronic traumatic brain injury patients (n = 21) that randomly received VGT or BPT for 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks. The clinical outcome measures included: i) the Community Balance & Mobility Scale (CB&M); ii) the Unified Balance Scale (UBS); iii) the Timed Up and Go test (TUG); iv) static balance and v) selective visual attention evaluation (Go/Nogo task).

Results

Both groups improved in CB&M scores, but only the VGT group increased on the UBS and TUG with a between-group significance (p < 0.05). Selective attention improved significantly in the VGT group (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Video game therapy is an option for the management of chronic traumatic brain injury patients to ameliorate balance and attention deficits.

Trial registration

NCT01883830, April 5 2013.
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Metadata
Title
The effects of video game therapy on balance and attention in chronic ambulatory traumatic brain injury: an exploratory study
Authors
Sofia Straudi
Giacomo Severini
Amira Sabbagh Charabati
Claudia Pavarelli
Giulia Gamberini
Anna Scotti
Nino Basaglia
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Neurology / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2377
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-017-0871-9

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