Improving Balance in Adults With Intellectual Developmental Disorder via Virtual Environments

Abstract

Balance problems have been found among 57% of adults with Intellectual Developmental Disorder (IDD). Moreover, these adults have only partially participated in conventional activity programs. There is a clear need for new interventions that will enhance these individuals’ interest and motivation toward improving their balance skills. Virtual gaming training experiences are a promising prospect in that regard. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of virtual reality games on improving balance for adults with IDD. We recruited 31 individuals with mild-moderate IDD who had fallen at least twice in the year prior to initiating this intervention, and we evaluated these participants using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. The participants were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups, and only the latter group took part in a series of twelve 30-minute bi-weekly virtual game sessions, designed to improve balance using the SeeMe virtual game system. We found significant (p < .001) pre-post improvements in balance abilities in the experimental group and no significant pre-post change in the control group (p < .77). These data suggest that virtual game technology is a viable tool for improving balance among adults with IDD.

Video-game System for Improving the Balance of Ageing Adults with Intellectual Disability in Sheltered Workshop

“…19 Our results matched with previous studies that virtual games could improve balance skills of individuals with ID. 20,21 On the other hand, increment was found in the mean of all limit of stability outcome measures except forward limit of stability and significant improvement was found only in leftward limit of stability.…”

Health Promotion Through Advanced Physical Activity Programs for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

“…Our experience suggests that VR. Gaming helps to enhance physical fitness in individuals with IDD [12,103], and it is a means to enhance participation in leisure activities [104] and improve balance with the intent of reducing falls among individuals with IDD [105].…”

Influence of a Three-Month Mixed Reality Training on Gait Speed and Cognitive Functions in Adults with Intellectual Disability: A Pilot Study

“…The use of VR devices can promote motor learning and balance improvement in healthy subjects [ 18 ] but also in pathological populations (e.g., cerebral palsy and Down syndrome, [ 19 ]). Lotan and Weiss (2020) also showed balance improvement in adults with intellectual disability after training in a virtual environment [ 20 ].…”