Effects of Dance Exergaming on Depressive Symptoms, Fear of Falling, and Musculoskeletal Function in Fallers and Nonfallers Community-Dwelling Older Women

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a pop dance exergaming protocol on fall risk factors-depressive symptoms, fear of falling, and musculoskeletal function-in community-dwelling older female fallers and nonfallers. There were 47 community-dwelling older women assigned to the intervention group (IG) [fallers (n = 10, 69.8 ± 4.3 years); nonfallers (n = 12, 68.9 ± 3.3 years)] and the control group (CG) [fallers (n = 12, 73.6 ± 5.4 years); nonfallers (n = 13, 68.7 ± 4.8 years)]. The CG maintained their lifestyle and the IG performed a videogame dance training three times per week for 12 weeks. The Dance Central game for Xbox 360 and Kinect motion sensor were used. The primary outcomes were geriatric depressive symptoms, fear of falling, and concentric and eccentric isokinetic peak torque (PT) of quadriceps and hamstrings. Secondary outcomes included cross-sectional area of quadriceps and hamstring muscles, functionality (Timed Up and Go test, gait speed, the Five Times Sit-to-Stand test), and a fall circumstances and outcomes recording. The depressive symptoms decreased in the Intervention Fallers Group. The eccentric hamstrings PT at 180°/s increased in the Intervention Nonfallers Group. There were no significant differences between groups for the other variables analyzed. The training attendance was 83% for the Intervention Fallers Group and 88% for the Intervention Nonfallers Group. Dance exergaming can be indicated to decrease depressive symptoms in fallers and increase the PT in nonfallers among community-dwelling older women.

Perceptive–Cognitive and Physical Function in Prefrail Older Adults: Exergaming Versus Traditional Multicomponent Training

“…6 For instance, including virtual reality perceptive-cognitive challenges to stationary cycling have been proposed as a more effective approach for improving executive functions than traditional physical exercise in older adults. 10,11 It is reasonable to assume that high complexity activities (i.e., involving mental engagement related to skill learning, strategy development, exergames, and so on) may elicit more prominent changes in perceptive-cognitive domains than those of low complexity, predominantly designed to improve physical or physiological domains. 12 Exergaming has thus been indicated as an attractive way to provide simultaneous physical function and perceptivecognitive stimuli 13 and is considered as more motivating than traditional repetitive exercise routines.…”

“…During exergame practice, instantaneous feedback is provided, and physical demands can be increased by adjusting the game level complexity. 11,14 There is compelling evidence regarding the effects of exergames on static and dynamic balance, functional mobility, 13 cognition, 15 and fall rate reduction. 14 In contrast, there is still a lack of evidence that exergaming produces similar benefits (perceptive-cognitive and physical function) in comparison to traditional multicomponent exercises, which are deemed as effective in promoting substantial physical function changes.…”

The effects of exergames on muscle strength: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Considering that exergames require body weight bearing exercises, 28 they might be a useful tool for increasing muscle strength. Nonetheless, as there are currently many different approaches (e.g., different game interfaces, pace of the games, and difficulty of the tasks) to performing exergames, 23,28 there is still no consensus on the effects of exergames on the wide range of muscle strength measures such as handgrip strength, 33,34,38 maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), 31,39‐42 isokinetic strength, 34,43‐45 and one‐repetition maximum (1RM) strength 46 …”

Novel Mat Exergaming to Improve the Physical Performance, Cognitive Function, and Dual-Task Walking and Decrease the Fall Risk of Community-Dwelling Older Adults

“…A recent study further investigated the effects of dance exergaming in fallers and non-fallers among community-dwelling older women and demonstrated the benefits of training on physical and psychological aspects. The authors concluded that dance exergaming can be indicated to decrease depressive symptoms in fallers and increase the peak torque (of the hamstrings) in non-fallers among community-dwelling older women ( Rodrigues et al, 2018 ). The aforementioned evidence led to support of the use of exergame-based interventions for community-dwelling older people.…”