Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Exergames in ICU

Feasibility and observed safety of interactive video games for physical rehabilitation in the intensive care unit: a case series
Background

Full-size image (50K) - Opens new windowEarly rehabilitation in the intensive care unit (ICU) improves patients' physical function. Despite reports of using commercially available interactive video game systems for rehabilitation, there are few data evaluating feasibility and safety as part of routine in-patient rehabilitation, particularly in the ICU.

Methods
We conducted an observational study from September 1, 2009, to August 31, 2010, of adults admitted to a 16-bed medical ICU receiving video games as part of routine physical therapy (PT), evaluating use and indications and occurrence of 14 prospectively monitored safety events.

Results
Of 410 patients receiving PT in the medical ICU, 22 (5% of all patients; male, 64%; median age, 52 years) had 42 PT treatments with video games (median [interquartile range] per patient, 1.0 [1.0-2.0]). Main indications for video game therapy included balance (52%) and endurance (45%), and the most common activities included boxing (38%), bowling (24%), and balance board (21%). Of 42 treatments, 69% occurred while standing and 45% while mechanically ventilated. During 35 hours of PT treatment, 0 safety events occurred (95% upper confidence limit for safety event rate, 8.4%).

Conclusions
Novel use of interactive video games as part of routine PT in critically ill patients is feasible and appears safe in our case series. Video game therapy may complement existing rehabilitation techniques for ICU patients.

Keywords: Rehabilitation; Critical care; Adults; Mechanical ventilation; Interactive video games

Michelle E. Kho PT, PhD, Abdulla Damluji MBChB, MPH, Jennifer M. Zanni PT, MSPT, ScD, Dale M. Needham MD, PhD



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