Energy expenditure in chronic stroke patients playing Wii Sports: a pilot study

Ten chronic (≥ 6 months) stroke patients comprising a convenience sample, who were able to walk independently on level ground, were recruited from a rehabilitation centre. They were instructed to play Wii Sports tennis and boxing in random order for 15 minutes each, with a 10-minute break between games. A portable gas analyzer was used to measure oxygen uptake (VO2) during sitting and during Wii Sports game play. Energy expenditure was expressed in metabolic equivalents (METs), calculated as VO2 during Wii Sports divided by VO2 during sitting. We classified physical activity as moderate (3-6 METs) or vigorous (> 6 METs) according to the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association Guidelines.Among the 10 chronic stroke patients, 3 were unable to play tennis because they had problems with timing of hitting the ball, and 2 were excluded from the boxing group because of a technical problem with the portable gas analyzer. The mean (± SD) energy expenditure during Wii Sports game play was 3.7 (± 0.6) METs for tennis and 4.1 (± 0.7) METs for boxing. All 8 participants who played boxing and 6 of the 7 who played tennis attained energy expenditures > 3 METs.With the exception of one patient in the tennis group, chronic stroke patients played Wii Sports tennis and boxing at moderate-intensity, sufficient for maintaining and improving health in this population.Stroke is one of the leading causes of long-term disability in modern western countries [1]. As a consequence of European population aging, the number of strokes is predicted to increase from approximately 1.1 million per year in 2000 to 1.5 million per year in 2025 [2]. Worldwide stroke prevalence ranges from 5-10 per 1000 among all age groups and from 46-73 per 1000 among persons aged ≥65 years [3]. There is a growing need for cost-effective treatment for stroke patients, including rehabilitation and tertiary prevention.Stroke survivors often become deconditioned with an aerobic capacity abou