The effect of leap motion controller based exergame therapy on hand function, cognitive function and quality of life in older adults. A randomised trial

Objective. To evaluate the effect of leap motion controller based exergame therapy (LMCBET) on hand function, cognitive function and quality of life (QoL) in older adults. Design. A parallel, double-blind trial with participants allocated (1:1) to one of two groups as the structured exercise (SE) and LMCBET. Setting. The study was conducted in "Barinyurt Nursing Home and Elderly Care Center" in Istanbul. Participants. Thirty-two older adults who had adequate hand function, ability to follow commands, 24 points or more in the mini mental state examination (MMSE) were included and 30 were analyzed. Interventions. SE Group performed a Structured Hand Exercise program while LMCBET group performed "ErgoActive'' and "HandROM" exercise apps focusing on hand exercises and fine motor skills along 30-45 minute sessions, 2 days a week, over 8 weeks. Main outcome measures. Participants were evaluated with box and block test (BBT), Purdue Pegboard test (PPT), hand dynamometer, Duruoz hand index (DHI), stroop test (ST), digit span test (DST), and World Health Organization QoL instrument-older adults module (WHOQOL-OLD) at the beginning (T0), at 8 (T1), and 16 (T2) weeks after the study started. Results. There were significant differences in BBT, PPT, DHI, and WHOQOL-OLD in the SE group (p < 0.05). BBT, right, left, couple, total scores of PPT, DHI and WHOQOL-OLD were found significant in the LMCBET group (p < 0.05). In Time*Group evaluations, there were no differences (p > 0.05). Conclusions. SE and LMCBET were effective on hand function and QoL in healthy older adults.