Immersive Virtual Tasks With Motor and Cognitive Components: A Feasibility Study With Young and Older Adults
in Journal of Aging and Physical ActivityObjective: To analyze the feasibility, safety, and acceptability of immersive virtual tasks. Methods: The authors recruited 11 young adults and 10 older adults. The participants performed three virtual reaching tasks while walking on a virtual path. The descriptive analysis and comparison between participants were performed using the Mann–Whitney U test and chi-square test for nonparametric and nominal variables, respectively. The authors also used analysis of variance for a between-groups comparison for normal variables. Results: Twenty percent of older adults and 81.8% of young adults completed all three tasks (chi-square test; p = .005). Both groups reported minor symptoms, with no significant differences. The older adults were more motivated to practice the tasks (Mann–Whitney U test; p = .015) and would be more likely to suggest them to others (chi-square test; p = .034). Conclusion: All three tasks were feasible for young adults. All participants, except for one, had cybersickness. The symptoms were mostly mild and subsided once the interaction was complete.
Caruso Soares, Bacha, Vieira, de Lima, and Pompeu are with the Department of Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Mello is with the School of Physical Education and Sports, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Moretto and de Deus Lopes are with the Interdisciplinary Center for Interactive Technologies, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Fonseca is with the Clinical Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Lange is with the College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Torriani-Pasin is with the Department of Pedagogy of the Human Body, Laboratory of Motor Behavior, School of Physical Education and Sports, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
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