Table 3 Summary of participant characteristics, study design and exergaming interventions

Assad et al. [[25]]

13 PD (Aged 54-86 years) 9 males and 5 females

Mean duration of PD = 9 yr

Participatory design

Sony Playstation Eye™

5 Upper body movement games.

1 session Duration NS

Clinic

Assess PD subjects’ perception of playing an exergame developed for PD.

Zettergren et al. [[22]]

1 male (69 years old)

PD duration <3 yr

Single subject case study

Nintendo Wii™

Penguin slide, Table tilt, Balance bubble, Free step, Island cycling, Obstacle course and Rhythm parade.

2 sessions/week 8 weeks 40-60 minutes per session

Clinic

Evaluate the effects of multiple Nintendo Wii Fit activities on gait, balance and mobility.

Pompeu et al. [[21]]

32 PD (Aged 60-85 years)

HY I & II

Single-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT)

Nintendo Wii™

Balance games: (Table tilt, Tilt city, Penguin slide, Soccer heading) Static balance (Torso twist and Single leg extension).

2 sessions/week 7 weeks 60 minutes per session

Clinic

Stationary gait: (Rhythm parade, Obstacle Course, Basic Step and Basic Run)

Test if PD patients improve their performance on the Wii & compare the effects of Wii exercise on motor and cognitive training with balance therapy.

Mendes et al. [[20]]

16 PD (No mean age data) 11 Healthy elderly

HY I = 2; HY II = 14

Longitudinal controlled trial

Nintendo Wii™

Table tilt, Tilt city, Penguin slide, Soccer heading, Obstacle course, Rhythm parade, Basic run plus, Basic step, Single leg extensions games.

2 sessions/week 7 weeks 60 minutes per session

Clinic

To evaluate the learning, retention and transfer of performance after using the Wii.

Esculier et al. [[19]]

10 PD (61.9 ± 11.0)

Mean duration of PD = 8.5 (3.6) years

Longitudinal controlled trial

Nintendo Wii™

Wii sports: Table tilt, Ski slalom, Balance bubble, Ski jump and Penguin slide.

3 × 6 weeks 40 minutes each session

Home

8 Healthy elderly (63.5 ± 12.0)

To evaluate whether PD subjects balance and functional activities improved using the Wii Compare the effects against a healthy elderly sample.

Mhatre et al. [[23]]

10 PD (Aged 44-91 years) 6 female and 4 males

Mean Duration of PD = 6.7 years

Prospective interventional cohort study

Nintendo Wii™

Balance board games: Marble game, Skiing, and bubble game.

3 sessions/week 8 weeks 30 minutes each session

Clinic

Assess the effectiveness of using the Wii Fit on people with PD for gait and balance training.

Hertz et al. [[24]]

20 PD (66.7 ± 7.2) 13 male and 7 female

Mean Duration of PD = 5.5 (4.3) years

Pre-post design trial

Nintendo Wii™

Tennis, boxing and bowling

3 sessions/week 4 weeks 60 minutes each session

Clinic

Assess the effectiveness of Wi on both motor and non–motor symptoms of PD.