Clinical evidence of effect

MOTO tiles were developed with researchers in playware and modular robotics at the Technical University of Denmark. 15 scientific publications on clinical trials in Denmark, Japan, PR China and Taiwan show significant effects on physical and cognitive performance.

“A total of 4–6 hours of play on MOTO tiles gives statistically significant effects on physical functional abilities and cognitive abilities.”

Summary of the scientific evidence · Read the summary (PDF)

Studies at a glance

Physical abilities · Denmark

Randomised controlled trial, seniors averaging 83 years: balance test +149 %, plus Chair Stand and Timed Up & Go
Better balance and mobility (Dynamic Gait Index), leg strength +100 %, seniors 1–2 cm taller
Frail seniors: balance test +80 % after merely 1 hour of play, and no more rollator
Community-dwelling seniors: Chair Stand, TUG, 6-minute walk, line-walk balance

Physical abilities · Japan, PR China, Taiwan

Japan: balance and gait measures, Functional Reach, TUG and 30-second Chair Stand; and Chair Stand, Functional Reach, TUG and the Kihon Checklist, which predicts the need for long-term care
PR China, RCT with seniors with mild to moderate dementia: Berg Balance Scale, TUG and Five Times Sit-to-Stand
Taiwan: balance confidence (ABC scale), TUG and centre-of-mass control

Cognitive abilities

PR China, RCTs with seniors with dementia: MoCA and Digit Span; reaction time in visual search and accuracy in n-back
Japan: more activity in the prefrontal cortex (concentration and focus) on brain scans, and better Stroop and Flanker results

Health tests and economy

Denmark: MOTO scores correlate with the standard health tests TUG, Chair Stand and Four Square Step Test
Fall prevention: 10,000 seniors training with MOTO tiles save an estimated €43 million a year, about 8 times the initial investment

Health economy case (PDF, 1.1 MB)