Version 1
: Received: 19 March 2024 / Approved: 19 March 2024 / Online: 21 March 2024 (04:43:22 CET)
How to cite:
LEE, M.C.; PARK, C.H.; HAN, K.H. 3D Virtual Reality Motionless Imagery Exercise through Avatar in Older People. Preprints2024, 2024031114. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202403.1114.v1
LEE, M.C.; PARK, C.H.; HAN, K.H. 3D Virtual Reality Motionless Imagery Exercise through Avatar in Older People. Preprints 2024, 2024031114. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202403.1114.v1
LEE, M.C.; PARK, C.H.; HAN, K.H. 3D Virtual Reality Motionless Imagery Exercise through Avatar in Older People. Preprints2024, 2024031114. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202403.1114.v1
APA Style
LEE, M.C., PARK, C.H., & HAN, K.H. (2024). 3D Virtual Reality Motionless Imagery Exercise through Avatar in Older People. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202403.1114.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
LEE, M.C., Chang Hoon PARK and Kyung Hun HAN. 2024 "3D Virtual Reality Motionless Imagery Exercise through Avatar in Older People" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202403.1114.v1
Abstract
Background: 3D virtual reality (VR) Motionless Imagery Exercise through Avatar (MIEA) was developed to improve elderly’s psychological (cognitive and emotional) and physical health. This study observed the impact of this program on the cognitive functions and emotional well-being and the electrophysiological changes in older adults. Methods: This study was conducted using a randomized controlled trial design. The participants included 38 adults, 65 to 84 years of age, who were physically mobile and neurologically healthy. Among them, 19 participants were assigned to the experimental group, who underwent exercises using elderly avatars in a VR virtual exercise program. The other 19 participants were assigned to the control group who underwent the VR program. Both groups engaged in the VR intervention for 20 minutes three times a week, over six weeks. Results: The cognitive functions, including attention restraint, working memory, and phonemic fluency, of the experimental group showed significant improvements compared to the control group. Regarding emotional well-being, the experimental group showed greater self-efficacy. The electrophysiological changes revealed similar patterns to exercise-induced reactions in electromyography of the experimental group after intervention. Conclusions: These findings confirm that participation in 3D VR MIEA enhances cognitive functions and physical self-efficacy among the elderly. Therefore, 3D VR MIEA can be utilized in the rehabilitation therapy of patients or elderly with limited physical activity.
Keywords
3D virtual reality; mental health; Elderly; motionless exercise; Cognitive function; emotional wel-being; imagery training
Subject
Public Health and Healthcare, Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
