Supplementary Material for: Effectiveness of a Home-Based Active Video Game Programme in Young Cystic Fibrosis Patients

Background: Exercise-based rehabilitation is already a part of cystic fibrosis (CF) treatment; however, patient adherence is low. Objectives:
To assess the effectiveness of a home exercise programme using active
video games (AVGs) as a training modality for children and adolescents
with CF. Methods: Thirty-nine children with CF were randomised to a control group (CG, n = 20, age 11 ± 6 years; FEV1 86.2 ± 20.5% of predicted) or a training group (AVGG, n = 19, age 13 ± 3 years; FEV1
82.7 ± 21.7% of predicted). The home training protocol consisted of 30-
to 60-min sessions, 5 days/week, for 6 weeks using a Nintendo Wii™
platform. Exercise capacity was measured by the 6-min walk test (6MWT)
and modified shuttle walk test (MSWT); muscular strength was estimated
using the horizontal jump test (HJT), medicine ball throw (MBT), and
hand grip strength (right [RHG]; left [LHG]); and quality of life was
rated using the Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised (CFQ-R). All the
children were measured at baseline, after rehabilitation, and at 12
months. Results: For the group × time interaction ANOVAs,
the AVGG showed significant between-group differences in exercise
capacity: 6MWT farthest walking distance, 38.4 m (p < 0.01); MSWT farthest walking distance, 78.4 m (p < 0.05); and muscular strength: HJT 9.8 cm, MBT 30.8 cm, RHG 7 kg, and LHG 6.5 kg (p
< 0.01), before versus after intervention. The CFQ-R reported
significantly higher scores on respiratory symptoms after the
intervention and favoured the AVGG, and there was an improvement in
other domains after 12 months. Adherence to the home exercise programme
was 95% during the 6- week intervention period. Conclusion:
A home-based programme using AVGs can effectively improve exercise
capacity, muscular strength and quality of life in the short-term in
children and adolescents with CF. The effects of training on muscle
performance and quality of life were sustained over 12 months.