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Impact of a Pilot Videogame-Based Physical Activity Program on Walking Speed in Adults with Schizophrenia

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Abstract

The purpose of this report is to describe the impact of a videogame-based physical activity program using the Kinect for Xbox 360 game system (Microsoft, Redmond, WA) on walking speed in adults with schizophrenia. In this randomized controlled trial, 28 participants played either an active videogame for 30 min (intervention group) or played a sedentary videogame for 30 min (control group), once a week for 6 weeks. Walking speed was measured objectively with the Short Physical Performance Battery at enrollment and at the end of the 6-week program. The intervention group (n = 13) showed an average improvement in walking speed of 0.08 m/s and the control group (n = 15) showed an average improvement in walking speed of 0.03 m/s. Although the change in walking speed was not statistically significant, the intervention group had between a small and substantial clinically meaningful change. The results suggest a videogame based physical activity program provides clinically meaningful improvement in walking speed, an important indicator of health status.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Center for Research Resources [KL2R024130 to H.L. & UCSF-CTSI Grant Number UL1 RR024131] and the National Institute on Aging (K23AG04438). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Center for Research Resources or the National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiological Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, 2 Koret Way, N631A, Box 0610, San Francisco, CA, 94143-0610, USA

    H. Leutwyler, E. Hubbard & G. Dowling

  2. UCSF School of Nursing, N339B, San Francisco, CA, USA

    B. A. Cooper

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  1. H. Leutwyler
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  2. E. Hubbard
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  3. B. A. Cooper
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  4. G. Dowling
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Correspondence to H. Leutwyler.

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Leutwyler, H., Hubbard, E., Cooper, B.A. et al. Impact of a Pilot Videogame-Based Physical Activity Program on Walking Speed in Adults with Schizophrenia. Community Ment Health J 54, 735–739 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-017-0208-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-017-0208-6

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