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I. Silva1, G. Pereira2, J. Bacha3, D.H. Kim3, C. Passini4, R. Lopes5, J. Pompeu3
1University of Sao Paulo, Department of Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2University of Sao Paulo, Department of Electronic Systems Engineering, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 3University of Sao Paulo, Department of Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 4University of Sao Paulo, Laboratory of Motor Behavior, Physical Education and Sport School, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 5University of Sao Paulo, Department of Electronic Systems Engineering - Engineering School, São Paulo, Brazil
Background: Commercial exergames has been applied promisingly to improve postural control and cognition function in older adults. However, there is little evidence regarding the feasibility, tolerability, safety and acceptability of immersive virtual reality systems (IVRS) for motor and cognitive training in this population.
Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility, tolerability, safety and acceptability of an IVRS in young adults and older adults.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study. We assessed 40 participants: 20 young adults and 20 older adults. Before experiencing the IVRS, participants answered about sociodemographic characteristics and a questionnaire to characterize their previous experience with technology. After 10 minutes of immersion in IVRS, applicability was assessed by performance through the final score and tolerability by the number of participants who completed the task. Safety was assessed using the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire to check the occurrence of cybersickness. Acceptability was assessed through a satisfaction questionnaire. The Mann-Whitney and Chi-square test were used for comparisons between groups of continuous numerical and qualitative nonparametric variables, respectively. The level of significance adopted was 0.05.
Results: All study participants completed the virtual task. In relation to the final score, young adults had an average of 338 points and older adults non fallers 187.5 points. The Mann-Whitney test showed a statistically significant difference between groups (p = <0.001). The results showed that only “eye strain” (p = 0.028) and “blurred vision” (p= 0.018) showed statistically significant differences between groups on the Chi-square test. Regarding the total score of the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire, Mann-Whitney test showed that there was not a statistically significant difference between groups (p = 0.097). In general, the acceptability questionnaire showed both adults groups reported good acceptability, with no significant differences (p= 0.254).
Conclusion(s): The IVRS was feasible, tolerable, safe and acceptable for young and older adults.
Implications: The IVRS could be used as a new potential specific tool to improve postural control and cognition of older adults, therefore contributing to reduce the risk factors of occurrence falls.
Funding, acknowledgements: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) for financial support (process number 2019/09751-5).
Keywords: Aged, Control balance, Virtual Reality
Topic: Older people
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
Committee: Medical School of the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
Ethics number: 03310818.0.0000.0065
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
