Effects of an Exergame Software for Older Adults on Fitness, Activities of Daily Living Performance, and Quality of Life.

BACKGROUND: As people become older, the biological process of aging leads to a decline in functional capabilities, which entails difficulties in the performance of daily tasks. Within the "Active and Assisted Living Joint Programme" a consortium from Spain, Germany, and Switzerland developed an interactive Exergame software for older adults to maintain their physical abilities and independence within the daily tasks. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: An interventional study was conducted to validate the software. For 3 months, Swiss and Spanish seniors used the system at least three times a week for minimum half an hour in their homes. The physical condition in terms of maintaining or increasing strength, balance, safety, and mobility of the seniors was assessed by using the Berg Balance Scale and the Senior Fitness Test. In addition, the effect on independence within the activities of daily living was assessed by using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, the Performance Quality Rating Scale, and the Iconographical Falls Efficacy Scale. We used the EQ 5D to evaluate the "quality of life." RESULTS: Twenty-nine participants (male; n = 14; female; n = 15) completed the study. Scores of endurance (2 minutes step test; P = 0.01, η2 = 0.3) increased significantly. Moderate effect sizes in quality of life (r = 0.3), lower body strength (η2 = 0.08), and large effect sizes in endurance (η2 = 0.3) were detected. A small effect was evaluated within the gait speed (r = 0.2), mobility in the lower body (r = 0.2), and the balance capabilities (r = 0.2). CONCLUSION: The results of this study lead us to the conclusion that physical training with activity-focused exergames that are related to the everyday tasks of older adults could help to maintain and improve the individual fitness status.

Examples of the application of the cause-effect ergonomic evaluation model to the wheelchair cushions.

This article highlights the potential of the application of the cause-effect model for the ergonomic evaluation in the field of cushions. User involvement in the prescription and development of assistive devices have been identified a key aspect for positive interventions, although the reality is that we lack of systematic approaches and examples of best practices. The potential benefits are identified for the development of new products and in the prescription process. Additional research would be necessary to better link the characteristics of the cushions and users with the biomechanical and physiological performance of the interface cushion-user and the consequences measured in health, user perception and activity performance. This article shows examples of the relationship in this three levels from the point of view of the user perception.

Beyond qualitative and subjective techniques to assess usability of banking interfaces for senior citizens.

Senior citizens can benefit from banking services but the lack of usability hampers this possibility. New approaches based on physiological response, eye tracking and user movement analysis can provide more information during interface interaction. This research shows the differences depending on user knowledge and use of technology, gender and type of interface.

Intuitive tactile algorithms to guide blind runners by means of a belt with vibrators.

Visually impaired people do not have equal possibilities to practice sports. In the case of running they need a sighted guide. This paper compare different possibilities for indicating direction to blind people by means of a belt that transmits tactile messages, and defines design requirements based on anthropometric analysis. The results shows that intuitive tactile messages are achieved with tactile stimuli applied in the ventral section, from the iliac crests to the navel.

Example of the application of the PERSONA methodology in the definition of needs and requirements for the WeTakeCare system.

In user-centred design and marketing, personas are fictional characters created to represent the different user types that might use a site, brand, or product in a similar way [1]. As in other projects, the main application and use value of the persona approach in WeTakeCare project has been to depict and thus make "vivid" the characters and the milieus created and selected. It has helped to better understand and communicate the differences among the potential users. It has also helped to understand the heterogeneity and diversity of the users' lives and to focus on how to meet their actual needs [2].

On the Use of Dance as a Rehabilitation Approach for Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Single Case Study.

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most common motor disability in childhood. It is a group of permanent disorders that affect child development causing disorders of movement and posture and activity limitations. The impairment of psychomotor skills of children with Cerebral Palsy is attributed to a permanent alteration occurred in non-progressive brain development of the fetus or nursing infant. Some motor related symptoms can be treated using proper physical therapy. However, one of the biggest problems of the usual physical therapy is adherence to therapy. Ballet can be an alternative or a complement to physiotherapy, with the added attraction of not being part of a to therapy, but a fun activity with the extra reward associated with the realization of an artistic activity. For some years the ballet is used as therapeutically valuable for both children with cerebral palsy: Intensive ballet training can generate changes in the sensorimotor cortex. Ballet is characterized by a complex process of movements that have to be in a musical rhythm (hence have to be precise), in which there is an overall coordination of the muscles. It is also a highly motivating and rewarding activity that allows many children with CP sharing the activities of their peers without special needs. Objective measurements of the Full Port de Bras movement has been chosen as an index of improvement. The results shows progressive improvements of the execution in a single case.