[Balance trainability using the Nintendo Wii balance board in sportive people].

BACKGROUND: A multivariable training has a positive impact on balance skills and risk of injury. To date the effect of this training using the Nintendo Wii balance board in sportive people has not yet been investigated.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether training with the Nintendo Wii balance board can improve balance skills.

METHOD: 20 people were randomized into a control and an intervention group each with 10 people who performed a unilateral stance test with eyes open and closed as well as the star excursion balance test before and after the intervention. The control group completed their usual sports and the intervention group an adjunct training with the Nintendo Wii balance board for 4 weeks.

RESULTS: Adjunct Training using the Nintendo Wii Balance Board did not improve sportive people's balance skills significantly. The intervention group, however, attained better results in the star excursion balance test, whereas the control group did not show any changes. The unilateral stance tests did not provide significant differences before and after training within both groups.

CONCLUSION: The use of the Nintendo Wii balance board should be further investigated by employing individual difficulty levels.