Feasibility Study of an Individualized Exergame Training for Older Adults With MI and/or UI (VITAAL)

Summary

This study examines the feasibility of an individualized video game training (VITAAL Exergame) for older adults with mobility impairments and/or urinary incontinence. In addition, the effect of the newly developed training program on motor and cognitive functions is examined. This study is a national study. The development of the exergame was carried out at the Fraunhofer AICOS research center in Portugal and further studies are being conducted in international collaboration with the University of Montréal in Canada, KU Leuven in Belgium and ETH Zurich. The Exergame consists of a video game based training, which is performed with step movements. These movements are detected by two sensors on the feet. The video game should make the training fun and motivate to train. The training will include specific cognitive and physical functions. Special emphasis will be put on a continuous interaction and integration of motor and cognitive functions. An intact cognitive-motor interaction as well as balance and strength form the basis for all everyday performances, especially for safe and accident-free movement in older adults. In the Exergame VITAAL, balance is trained with step-based games. Strength, especially leg strength, is trained through Tai-Chi-like movements/exercises.

The pelvic floor training takes place using a vaginal probe that measures the contractions of the pelvic floor. The training games on the VITAAL Exergame have been adapted for this purpose and are controlled via the probe.

All participants receive an individually tailored training session that is optimally adapted to their needs based on the results of the pre-measurement. Participants with urinary incontinence also receive an integrated pelvic floor training. The study includes 32-52 seniors with mobility impairments and 8-28 older adults with urinary incontinence. Balance and strength, gait pattern, cognitive functions and pelvic floor specific functions will be measured before and after the training in order to detect any changes. The training should be carried out during 12 weeks, with a maximum of two weeks break/holidays. There are two measurement dates with all examinations, whereby one measurement date lasts approx. 1.5 hours. All study participants can continue their everyday life as usual.

Conditions

• Urinary Incontinence
• Mobility Impairment
• Older Adults

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

VITAAL Exergame

12 weeks training with the VITAAL Exergame. The VITAAL exergame is an individualized multicomponent exergame training based mostly on the prevention and slowing of physical and cognitive decline and its consequences. It mainly consists of three (four with UI) components; strength training, balance training, cognitive training and pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) when suffering from UI.

BEHAVIORAL

Conventional Training UI

12 weeks non-individualized conventional training with a training booklet and additional walking exercise. The PFM training booklet is based on exercises that showed a reduction of incontinence in older adults while performing group pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) and mobility exercises.

BEHAVIORAL

Conventional Training MI

12 weeks non-individualized conventional training with a training booklet and additional walking exercise. The exercises are based on recommendations from the "Beratungsstelle für Unfallverhütung" (bfu).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Eling DeBruin

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Eling de Bruin, Prof. · ETH Zurich - Institute of Human Movement Sciences and Sport

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

60 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2020-10-26

Primary Completion

2021-10-31

Completion

2021-10-31

Countries

• Switzerland

Study Locations