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Use of active video gaming in children with neuromotor dysfunction: a systematic review
Author(s) -
Hickman Robbin,
Popescu Lisa,
Manzanares Robert,
Morris Brendan,
Lee SzuPing,
Dufek Janet S
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
developmental medicine and child neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.658
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1469-8749
pISSN - 0012-1622
DOI - 10.1111/dmcn.13464
Subject(s) - cinahl , medline , cochrane library , medicine , cerebral palsy , physical therapy , scopus , population , meta analysis , sample size determination , physical medicine and rehabilitation , psychology , psychiatry , psychological intervention , statistics , mathematics , environmental health , political science , law
Aim To examine current evidence on use of active video gaming ( AVG ) to improve motor function in children with movement disorders including cerebral palsy, developmental coordination disorder, and Down syndrome. Method Scopus, MEDLINE , Cochrane Library, EMBASE , and CINAHL were searched. Included papers studied the use of AVG for improving movement‐related outcomes in these populations. Parameters studied included health condition, strength of evidence, AVG delivery methods, capacity for individualizing play, outcomes addressed, effectiveness for achieving outcomes, and challenges/limitations. Results The 20 extracted articles varied in quality. Studies involved children with six different conditions using AVG in clinical, home, or school settings for 49 different motor outcomes. Dosage varied in frequency and duration. Choice of games played and difficulty level were therapist determined ( n =6) or child controlled ( n =14). The most common study limitations were small sample sizes and difficulty individualizing treatment. All articles showed improvement in outcomes with AVG , although differences were not consistently significant compared with conventional therapy. Interpretation Heterogeneity of measurement tools and target outcomes prevented meta‐analysis or development of formal recommendations. However, AVG is feasible and shows potential for improving outcomes in this population. Additional investigations of dosing variables, utility as a home supplement to clinical care, and outcomes with larger sample sizes are merited.