Individuals with mild cognitive impairment are at risk of cognitive and physical decline. Virtual reality (VR) exercise may provide beneficial physical and cognitive exercise. The objectives of this study were to assess the feasibility and safety of home-based VR exercise and to provide pilot data for physical and cognitive efficacy. Eleven individuals with mild cognitive impairment (seven males/four females, average 78 years old, and average 3 years since diagnosis) performed a 30-min home-based VR exercise program 5 days a week for 6 weeks. The VR platform was successfully installed in participants’ homes, and all participants were able to learn the VR program and progress. Participants completed 99% of the prescribed exercise. There were no major adverse events. Most participants enjoyed the VR program and reported physical benefits; fewer reported cognitive benefits. No physical or cognitive outcome measures showed change after 6 weeks. Home-based VR exercise is safe and feasible in individuals with mild cognitive impairment.
The Use of Home-Based Nonimmersive Virtual Reality to Encourage Physical and Cognitive Exercise in People With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Feasibility Study
Click name to view affiliation
Search for other papers by Lisa Sheehy in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Heidi Sveistrup in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Frank Knoefel in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Anne Taillon-Hobson in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Tara Martin in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Mary Egan in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Martin Bilodeau in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Vivian Welch in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Christine Yang in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Hillel Finestone in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
By purchasing this content you agree and accept the terms and conditions
Credit or debit card payments are available without a PayPal account in select
locations. Click the button above to check if this option is available for you.
Sheehy, Sveistrup, Knoefel, Taillon-Hobson, Martin, Egan, Bilodeau, Welch, and Finestone are with the Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Sveistrup, Knoefel, Yang, and Finestone are with Bruyère Continuing Care, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Sveistrup, Egan, and Bilodeau are with the Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Sveistrup and Bilodeau are with the Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Knoefel is also with the Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; and the Department of Systems and Computer Engineering, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Welch is with the Faculty of Medicine, School of Epidemiology, Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Yang and Finestone are with the Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Supplementary Materials
- Supplementary Table 1 (PDF 196 KB)
© 2025 Human Kinetics