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Abstract

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 6: Issue 1, Article 10, 2025. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a gaming system in improving balance, strength, and power after recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Existing bilateral deficits were also assessed among patients.

Four participants between the ages of 18-24 years were recruited for this case-control study. Participants must have had an ACLR in the last 2 years, been discharged from formal physical therapy, and have a continued history of participating in physical activity at least three times a week. Participants were assigned to either the experimental or control groups using counterbalancing. The two experimental participants were asked to complete six weeks of guided programming on a Nintendo Ring Fit at home. Balance and stability (functional movement screen), strength (handheld dynamometry), and power (triple hop) were assessed and compared pre and post the intervention, in addition to a basic analysis of current activity level and injury details. Minimal improvements in strength were witnessed for the experimental (3.11 ± 2.23% change) whereas the control group declined (-14.11 ± 5.67% change). Improvements for the involved limb were found in ankle closed-chain dorsiflexion range of motion (38.11 + 5.02% change) and triple hop performance (27.62 + 5.18% change) for the experimental group. Participants in the experimental group also made improvements toward the functional pass criterion of the Functional Movement System Motor Control Screen (9.31 + 10.40% change). The involved limb within the experimental group (19.78 + 7.76 % change) improved by +3.74% more than the involved limb in the control group (16.04 + 8.21% change) in the crossover hop test. The Nintendo Ring Fit may be effective in improving balance, stability, and power following ACLR. Further research is needed to assess its effectiveness across all measures.

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