Development of an interactive stepping game to reduce falls in older adults

More than one-third of people over the age of 65 years experience falls each year, and those who fall once are two to three times more likely to fall again. A fall can signifi-cantly limit a person's ability to remain self-sufficient. Fall injuries are responsible for significant disability, reduced physical function, and loss of independence. However, falls are not an inevitable result of aging. Systematic reviews of fall intervention studies have established that prevention programs can reduce falls. Physical activities, including strengthening exercises, Tai Chi, dancing and walking have been demonstrated to improve balance and decrease risk of falls in older adults. Modified dance-based exercises that include step-based movements have been demonstrated to improve endurance and balance in older adults. Dance video games, using a dance mat with areas that the player must step on in time with cues on the screen, have been demonstrated to improve activity and mood and reduce weight in children and youth. However, these dance games often include fast paced music, frequent jumping and an overload of visual information, movement and colors on the screen. This paper outlines the development of a prototype rhythm game that leverages the benefits of step-based exercise and dance video games to improve balance and reduce falls in older adults.