[The influence of Nintendo-Wii® bowling upon residents of retirement homes]

Z Gerontol Geriatr. 2013 Jul;46(5):425-30. doi: 10.1007/s00391-012-0391-6.
[Article in German]

Abstract

The few studies dealing with the positive effects of health and well-being of older people are only one-sided. The aim of the study therefore was to analyze the effects of Nintendo-Wii® bowling on daily function, state of dementia, quality of life, cognition and motor skills in retirement home inhabitants. The study was performed with 27 study participants (13 women, 14 men) between the ages of 49 and 95 years (mean = 71, SD = 14). They were randomly assigned to a control group (KG) and an intervention group (IG). Between pre- and posttest, the IG played 60 min/twice a week Nintendo-Wii® Bowling over 6 weeks. The improvement of IG was significant in the analysis of variance concerning strength (arm curls: F df = 2 = 7.199; p = 0,013; η(2) = 0,231) and showed a significant trend concerning coordination (tracking lines: F df = 2 = 3.99; p = 0,058; η(2) = 0,154) compared with KG. The area of rapidity (catching bars: F df = 2 = 28.511; p = 0,008; η(2) = 0,279) showed a significant decline in the IG compared with the KG. However, closer examination shows that the short time of intervention and the wide age range could have affected the results. Thus, further studies should take these critical aspects into consideration.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cognition Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Cognition Disorders / rehabilitation*
  • Comorbidity
  • Dementia / epidemiology*
  • Dementia / rehabilitation*
  • Exercise Therapy / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motor Activity
  • Nursing Homes / statistics & numerical data*
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Assessment
  • Sports / statistics & numerical data
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Video Games / statistics & numerical data*