Effectiveness of Virtual-Assisted Motor Games for Improving Balance in Children with Special Educational Needs
Introduction: Children with special educational needs (SEN) often present with balance and mobility deficits that limit their independence. Virtual reality and interactive video games have shown potential as engaging tools in paediatric rehabilitation. Objectives: The aim of this study was to eva...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Oradea Publishing House
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Romanian Journal of Physical Therapy |
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| Online Access: | https://cloud.uoradea.ro/index.php/s/J5qY88xYFKjgMmi |
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| author | Nicolae Lucian MOLDOVAN Evelyn Karolina MOLDOVAN Anca-Cristina POP Dana Ioana CRISTEA Ioan-Cosmin BOCA |
| author_facet | Nicolae Lucian MOLDOVAN Evelyn Karolina MOLDOVAN Anca-Cristina POP Dana Ioana CRISTEA Ioan-Cosmin BOCA |
| author_sort | Nicolae Lucian MOLDOVAN |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Children with special educational needs (SEN) often present with balance and
mobility deficits that limit their independence. Virtual reality and interactive video games
have shown potential as engaging tools in paediatric rehabilitation. Objectives: The aim of
this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a virtual assisted motor game-based
intervention, using the Wii Balance Board platform, in improving balance in children with
special educational needs (SEN). Methods: Five children with different neuromotor
impairments were included in a pre-post intervention design. Over four months, they
participated in bi-weekly interactive motor training sessions using virtual games focusing
on postural control and functional mobility. Progress was assessed by applying three
standardized instruments: Paediatric Balance Scale (PBS), Tinetti Performance-Oriented
Mobility Assessment (POMA) and Functional Mobility Scale (FMS), with pre- and post-
intervention testing. The analysis was mainly descriptive, given the small sample size.
Results: All participants showed improvements in functional balance and overall mobility.
PBS and POMA scores showed significant improvements in static and dynamic balance
tasks, and FMS scores suggested increased autonomy in usual school movements.
Conclusions: The use of virtual-assisted motor games, through the Wii Balance Board,
emerges as a viable and attractive option for therapeutic interventions for children with
CES. This approach facilitates active involvement and motivation of the participants,
contributing to the efficiency of the rehabilitation process. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-44c3ec6d27da47379bf5035aa7d898fe |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2068-1712 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | University of Oradea Publishing House |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Romanian Journal of Physical Therapy |
| spelling | doaj-art-44c3ec6d27da47379bf5035aa7d898fe2025-08-20T03:05:34ZengUniversity of Oradea Publishing HouseRomanian Journal of Physical Therapy2068-17122025-05-0131547482DOI:10.61215/RJPT.2025.31.54.74Effectiveness of Virtual-Assisted Motor Games for Improving Balance in Children with Special Educational NeedsNicolae Lucian MOLDOVAN0Evelyn Karolina MOLDOVAN1Anca-Cristina POP2Dana Ioana CRISTEA3Ioan-Cosmin BOCA4School Center for Inclusive Education, Târgu Mureș, RomaniaSchool Center for Inclusive Education, Târgu Mureș, RomaniaDepartment of Physical Education, Sport and Physiotherapy, University of Oradea, RomaniaDepartment of Physical Education, Sport and Physiotherapy, University of Oradea, RomaniaDepartment of Physical Education, Sport and Physiotherapy, University of Oradea, RomaniaIntroduction: Children with special educational needs (SEN) often present with balance and mobility deficits that limit their independence. Virtual reality and interactive video games have shown potential as engaging tools in paediatric rehabilitation. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a virtual assisted motor game-based intervention, using the Wii Balance Board platform, in improving balance in children with special educational needs (SEN). Methods: Five children with different neuromotor impairments were included in a pre-post intervention design. Over four months, they participated in bi-weekly interactive motor training sessions using virtual games focusing on postural control and functional mobility. Progress was assessed by applying three standardized instruments: Paediatric Balance Scale (PBS), Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA) and Functional Mobility Scale (FMS), with pre- and post- intervention testing. The analysis was mainly descriptive, given the small sample size. Results: All participants showed improvements in functional balance and overall mobility. PBS and POMA scores showed significant improvements in static and dynamic balance tasks, and FMS scores suggested increased autonomy in usual school movements. Conclusions: The use of virtual-assisted motor games, through the Wii Balance Board, emerges as a viable and attractive option for therapeutic interventions for children with CES. This approach facilitates active involvement and motivation of the participants, contributing to the efficiency of the rehabilitation process.https://cloud.uoradea.ro/index.php/s/J5qY88xYFKjgMmivirtual-assisted therapymotor gamesbalance improvementwii balance board |
| spellingShingle | Nicolae Lucian MOLDOVAN Evelyn Karolina MOLDOVAN Anca-Cristina POP Dana Ioana CRISTEA Ioan-Cosmin BOCA Effectiveness of Virtual-Assisted Motor Games for Improving Balance in Children with Special Educational Needs Romanian Journal of Physical Therapy virtual-assisted therapy motor games balance improvement wii balance board |
| title | Effectiveness of Virtual-Assisted Motor Games for Improving Balance in Children with Special Educational Needs |
| title_full | Effectiveness of Virtual-Assisted Motor Games for Improving Balance in Children with Special Educational Needs |
| title_fullStr | Effectiveness of Virtual-Assisted Motor Games for Improving Balance in Children with Special Educational Needs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effectiveness of Virtual-Assisted Motor Games for Improving Balance in Children with Special Educational Needs |
| title_short | Effectiveness of Virtual-Assisted Motor Games for Improving Balance in Children with Special Educational Needs |
| title_sort | effectiveness of virtual assisted motor games for improving balance in children with special educational needs |
| topic | virtual-assisted therapy motor games balance improvement wii balance board |
| url | https://cloud.uoradea.ro/index.php/s/J5qY88xYFKjgMmi |
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