Effects of Active Exergames Program on Muscle Strength, Lower Limb Muscle Mass and Physical Fitness in Older Adults at Risk of Falls

Falls in older adults have been associated with a decrease in physical activity, the level of functionality and an increase in dependency. Furthermore, falls and their consequences are one of the main causes of mortality among older people.

There are promising and novel solutions to prevent and/or avoid the repetition of falls; Among them, the use of exergames stands out. Exergames can be developed in health, community, sports centers or in a homeroom individually or in groups using a screen through video games that involve the movement of the whole body, like the real world with or without the use of a controller that allows you to execute movements in a small space and interact with the game scenario. They have been shown to be useful for improving balance and physical condition in people of different ages and health conditions, but there is little evidence of studies that analyze the effects of this therapeutic strategy in older adults at risk of falling.

Exergames are a novel, simple, motivating, and easy-to-implement treatment option to promote healthy aging and prevent the risk of falls in older people. Therefore, it has the potential to become, in the short term, a therapeutic strategy for mass use, with high adherence and low cost in health centers.

Additionally, older adults who execute an exergame program are expected to have better performance compared to a conventional physiotherapy program. It is expected to promote the use of exergames by rehabilitation professionals in primary health care centers to prevent falls.