Effects of Video Games-Based Task-Oriented Activity Training (Xbox 360 KinectTM) on Activity Performance and Participation in Patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare the effects of two different task-oriented activity training (TOAT) programs on activity performance and participation in children/adolescents with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA).

DESIGN: Sixty-two patients were randomized into group I and group II for TOAT. In group I, activities of daily living (ADL) were practiced using real materials from daily life and, in group II, ADL were practiced using video-based games (Xbox 360 Kinect) for 3 days/a week/8 weeks. Pain by the "Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)", upper extremity muscle, grip, and pinch strengths by a dynamometer, activity performance and participation by the "Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ)", "Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM)", and "Duruoz Hand Index (DHI)" were evaluated.

RESULTS: After treatment in both groups, significant changes were found in the NRS, muscle strength, grips strength, CHAQ, COPM, and DHI (p<0.05). Group II was statistically superior to group I in changes of almost all upper extremity muscle strengths, palmar pinch strength, COPM-satisfaction, and DHI scores (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Video games-based TOAT is an alternative and feasible treatment for children/adolescents with JIA. This new method may have widespread applicability in future research, given the rapidly growing interest in virtual reality-based therapy in rehabilitation.