Using Wii Fit to reduce fatigue among African American women with systemic lupus erythematosus: A pilot study

Abstract

Fatigue and physical deconditioning are common, difficult to treat conditions among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aim of this pilot study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a home-based exercise program using the Wii Fit system in patients with SLE. Fifteen sedentary African American women with SLE experiencing moderate to severe fatigue participated in a home exercise program using the Wii Fit 3 days a week for 30 minutes each for 10 weeks. A one-group pretest-posttest design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of this program. Primary outcome measure was severity of fatigue. Secondary outcome measures were body weight, waist circumference, fatigue-related symptoms of distress, activity level and physical fitness. At the completion of the 10-week Wii Fit exercise program, participants perceived fatigue severity as measured by the Fatigue Severity Scale to be significantly decreased (P=0.002), body weight and waist circumference were significantly reduced (Ps=0.01). In addition, anxiety level as measured by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and overall intensity of total pain experience as measured by Short-form of the McGill Pain Questionnaire were also significantly reduced (Ps<0.05). Findings provide preliminary support that the Wii Fit motivates this population to exercise which leads to alleviation of fatigue and reduced body weight, waist circumference, anxiety level, and overall intensity of total pain experience.

Fatigue, patient reported outcomes, and objective measurement of physical activity in systemic lupus erythematosus

“…9–12, 17 Tench and colleagues randomized SLE patients to an exercise program, relaxation techniques, or no intervention. The patients in the exercise group were seen once every 2 weeks for a supervised exercise session and otherwise self-reported physical activity.…”

I too, am America: a review of research on systemic lupus erythematosus in African-Americans

“…Findings of improved health outcomes following race-tailored interventions81 83 84 87 were similar to the reported acceptability and effectiveness of other culturally specific intervention programmes108 and consistent with studies that have suggested ways to neutralise, at least partially, the disadvantages of lower socioeconomic status associated with the excess morbidity and mortality in African-Americans with SLE 45109 110 These include:

improving access to quality healthcare;

targeting educational programmes to promote recognition and understanding of the disease and the comorbid conditions that affect outcome;

implementing programmes to improve self-monitoring and adherence to medical regimens;

developing opportunities to facilitate homemaking, childrearing and working outside the home;

applying psychosocial interventions to enhance self-confidence and social support.

…”

Helpful or Harmful? Potential Effects of Exercise on Select Inflammatory Conditions

“…However, researchers have found that exercise can have substantial benefits for patients with inflammatory conditions, including but not limited to AS, [39][40][41]42,43 RA, 44,45 OA, 46 FM, 47 and IIM, 51-53 as well as CHF, 48 T2DM, 49 and metabolic syndrome, 50 which are considered low-grade systemic inflammatory diseases (Table 1).…”