Recruiting

Exergaming Technology

Sponsor:

University of Toronto

Code:

NCT05130203

Conditions

Physical Inactivity

Cognitive Decline

Aging

Social Isolation

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 55+

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

MouvMat Exergaming

Standard Recreational Programming

Study Details

Brief summary:

Residents living in long-term care (LTC) homes spend up to 75% of their day in sedentary, socially withdrawn situations which increases their risk for depression, dementia, decreased functional status and increased care costs. Physical activity is an accepted intervention to improve the physical health, cognition, and well-being of older adults. Moreover, systematic reviews have found that exergaming (i.e. physical activity gamified with technology) offers physical, cognitive, and social benefits by means of dual-task activities that engage both motor and cognitive abilities. The effect of exergaming for older adults in LTC is less clear, as this population has greater health needs related to physical health conditions, cognitive impairment, and functional dependence. Given the increased global demand for LTC, there is a need to develop and assess innovative exergaming technologies that can support the physical and cognitive health of LTC residents.

MouvMat is an exergaming technology intervention with an interactive digital gaming surface designed for older adults (OA) in LTC settings. Participants can play familiar games, like Simon or Bingo, by stepping on or tapping the surface with an assistive pointing device. Games can be played individually or with multiple players. LED lights on the surface provide an adaptive digital display and embedded pressure sensors respond to players' input. The investigators collaboratively designed a preliminary prototype with OA aged 65 and older in a pilot project.

The overall objective of this proposal is to conduct a pilot RCT of the Mouvmat to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of the exergaming technology to improve the primary outcome of mobility, and the secondary outcomes of cognitive function and social isolation compared to a usual care control group receiving standard recreational programming by recreational therapists.

Conditions

Physical Inactivity

Cognitive Decline

Aging

Social Isolation

Study ID

NCT05130203

Start date

Oct 1, 2022

Status verified date

Jun, 2024

Completion date

Jan, 2025

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jan, 2025

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 55+

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • All residents at the participating long-term care homes are eligible if they are 55 years of age or older
  • Ability to communicate and speak English
  • Able to provide informed consent or have a substitute decision maker (SDM) who provides informed consent
  • A family member, friend, or personally-hired caregiver of an older adult residing in one of our participating LTC facilities are eligible to participate if they are 18 years of age or older, can communicate and speak English
  • The LTC resident does not need to be enrolled in or study in order for their family member/friend/caregiver to participate
  • LTC staff are eligible if they can communicate and speak English, are currently working in one of the participating LTC facilities, have at least 6 months experience working with older adults in LTC, providing or supervising physical or recreational activities, or involved with purchasing or directing these activities, and are a member of one of the following professions/positions: physiotherapist, physiotherapy assistant, recreational therapist, or LTC administrator.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Residents will be ineligible to participate in the study is they cannot communicate or speak English
  • Residents who typically do not participate in recreational activities
  • Residents who have a severe sensory (e.g., deaf, blind) or severe to moderate cognitive impairment AND/OR scores less than 20 on the Mini- Mental Status Examination (MMSE)
  • Family Members who cannot communicate or speak English
  • Family Members who cannot interact with the MouvMat due to sensory limitations (i.e., severe visual or auditory impairment)
  • Family Members who cannot provide verbal feedback

Study Design

Enrollment

60 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Supportive Care

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: MouvMat Exergaming

Older adults in the intervention group will participate in a 6-week, 3 times per week, 45 minutes per session exercise program involving use of the MouvMat. Each resident from the intervention group will engage with the exergame supervised by a qualified and trained RA. Each intervention session will involve groups of 4-5 participants, with participants taking turns. An RA blinded to participants' condition will collect the outcome data.

other: Standard Recreational Programming

A control group will meet on a similar schedule as the MouvMat group for standard recreational programming conducted by onsite recreational therapists. The same RA from the experimental group will collect outcome measurements from control group participants.

Interventions

MouvMat Exergaming

Sessions engaging with exergaming device.

Standard Recreational Programming

Conducted by recreational therapists.

Primary outcome measure

  • Change in mean mobility scores on the Timed-up-and-Go test [ Time Frame: Baseline and mid-point of the intervention (3 weeks) ]
  • Change in mean mobility scores on the Timed-up-and-Go test [ Time Frame: Baseline and following the completion of the intervention (6 weeks) ]
  • Change in mean mobility scores on the 2-Minute Walk Test [ Time Frame: Baseline and mid-point of the intervention (3 weeks) ]
  • Change in mean mobility scores on the 2-Minute Walk Test [ Time Frame: Baseline and following the completion of the intervention (6 weeks) ]
  • Adverse events (e.g. injury) related to exergame use [ Time Frame: Over the course of the intervention (baseline to 6 weeks) ]
  • Feasibility related to adherence rate [ Time Frame: Over the course of the intervention (baseline to 6 weeks) ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Charlene Chu, PhD

416-946-0217charlene.chu@utoronto.ca

Shefali Ram

416-946-8304s.ram@utoronto.ca

Locations

Kensington Gardens

Recruiting

Toronto, Canada

More Information

Sponsor

University of Toronto

Last update posted

Jun 13, 2024

Last verified

Jun, 2024

Keywords

  • nursing homes
  • long-term care
  • exergaming
  • user-centered design
  • older adult
  • aging
  • depression
  • dementia

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Toronto on 2024-06-13.