Effect of Wii Fit Rehabilitation on Balance, Functional Ability and Risk of Falling in Patients with Chronic Ankle Instability: A Randomized Controlled Trial

To evaluate the efficacy of incorporating Wii Fit-based rehabilitation (WFR) into a conventional physical therapy (CPT) program on balance, functional ability, and fall risk in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Single-blinded randomized controlled trial. Sixty participants with CAI (aged 18-60 years) were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (WFR plus CPT) or a control group (CPT only). Both groups received supervised therapy three times per week over 8 weeks. Outcome measures included the anteroposterior (APSI), mediolateral (MLSI), and overall stability indices (OSI) assessed via the Biodex Balance System; functional ability via the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure-Activities of Daily Living (FAAM-ADL); and fall risk via the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), measured pre- and post-intervention. The WFR combined with CPT group demonstrated significantly greater improvements across all outcome measures compared to the CPT-only group (P < 0.001). At 8 weeks, FAAM-ADL and FES-I scores were 94.7 ± 3.22 and 17.77 ± 2.76 in the intervention group versus 83.43 ± 2.45 and 26.3 ± 3.51 in controls, respectively. Combined WFR and CPT program significantly enhances postural stability, functional performance, and reduces fall risk in patients with CAI. WFR may serve as a valuable adjunct in rehabilitation protocols targeting balance deficits in this population.