Video games 'help cystic fibrosis patients keep their airways clearer'

A new study has suggested that video games controlled by the player's breath can encourage youths with cystic fibrosis to use techniques that can help keep their airways clearer.

"These are kids who are often lonely and frustrated with their medical treatments, and who turn to video games for fun," said Peter M Bingham, lead author of the study.

The researchers decided to capitalise on their patients' penchant for video games by designing software that encourages them to use the breathing techniques.

Instead of using a handheld controller, the game is controlled by a digital spirometer, a device that measures how fast and how much air the player breathes out.

Thirteen children aged 8-18 years were made to undergo pulmonary function tests. Then they participated in a game phase and a control phase for two to four weeks each. During both phases, they were given a computer and spirometer. During the game phase, they also had access to the games that were controlled by the spirometer.

A surprising result was that even though subjects used the spirometer during game play and the control period, their ability to take a deep breath (termed vital capacity) improved significantly only after game play.

"In sum, we think that these results show that using spirometer games can be a good way to involve children in respiratory therapy," Bingham said.

The study was presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in Denver.