Sitting playfully: does the use of a centre of gravity computer game controller influence the sitting ability of young people with cerebral palsy?

Abstract

Purpose: An investigative study to examine whether sitting ability could be improved through the use of a suite of computer games operated by leaning in one of four directions in a seated position. Method: Young people with cerebral palsy played with a suite of computer games controlled using a sitting platform that can detect changes in the distribution of pressure. A randomized cross-over trial with two periods of three months involving intervention or no intervention was used. Sitting ability was measured at the beginning and end of each period with participants acting as their own controls. Results: Statistically significant improvements were seen in two elements of box sitting using the Chailey levels (shoulder girdle position and spinal profile) and in five elements of the Sitting Assessment for Children with Neuromotor Dysfunction across both reach and rest phases of the assessment. Conclusions: The study provides evidence to suggest that a meaningful and engaging therapeutic activity, such as using computer games controlled by leaning the upper body, can help to improve sitting ability in children with neuromotor dysfunction. Further work is required to understand fully what effects such activities have on the various components of sitting ability.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Children with a neuromotor dysfunction such as Cerebral Palsy have less opportunities to play and have difficulty using standard computer based gaming equipment.

• Games consoles that require body movement such as the Nintendo Wii and Kinect are being purchased by Schools, Rehabilitation Centres and by Families with a number of aims.

• In a small sample this study indicates that using such equipment may improve some aspects of sitting ability.

Keywords::

• Sitting ability
• cerebral palsy
• play
• occupation
• motivation
• games
• computer

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial assistance of Cerebra, which funded the study, Oxford Brookes University and the Elizabeth Casson Trust; Dr Donna Cowan at Chailey Heritage Clinical Services who helped design the study, Dr Janet Cockburn and John Wann, who kindly provided the platforms and Martin Langer at Chailey Heritage, who modified them for children. Thanks also to Ladan Najafi at Chailey Heritage, who assisted the study.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no declarations of interest.