Effect of a home-based physical rehabilitation program via virtual reality on the functional outcomes of frail older adults: a quasi-experimental study

Abstract Given the rapid aging of the population in Egypt, efforts to slow down or prevent frailty. Virtual reality technology constitutes a promising rehabilitation strategy, but its effect on frailty in older adults remains inconclusive. A non-equivalent control pre, post, and follow-up test desig...

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Main Authors: Doaa Mohamed Zein El-AbdeenMohamed, Heba Noshy Abd EL-Aziz Mohamed, Soad Hassan Abd Elhameed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88225-8
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author Doaa Mohamed Zein El-AbdeenMohamed
Heba Noshy Abd EL-Aziz Mohamed
Soad Hassan Abd Elhameed
author_facet Doaa Mohamed Zein El-AbdeenMohamed
Heba Noshy Abd EL-Aziz Mohamed
Soad Hassan Abd Elhameed
author_sort Doaa Mohamed Zein El-AbdeenMohamed
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Given the rapid aging of the population in Egypt, efforts to slow down or prevent frailty. Virtual reality technology constitutes a promising rehabilitation strategy, but its effect on frailty in older adults remains inconclusive. A non-equivalent control pre, post, and follow-up test design was used with a sample of 70 prefrail or frail older adults. In 3 urbans affiliated to Dakahlia governorate, tools of data collection; Mini-Cog, Structured Interview Schedule, Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe of the Frailty Indicator (FI), Short Physical Performance Battery, and Falls Efficacy Scale. For each group, a significant improvement in frailty, physical performance, and falls from each measurement period to immediately after (p < 0.001), and within the 30-days study period while those in the control group were relatively stable over time and sometime worsen. The baseline characteristics and assessment results were similar between groups. We observed significant improvements in the intervention group in terms of frailty criteria, standing balance, gait speed, chair stand, and fear of fall. No improvements were observed in the control group, we anticipate a decrease in frailty index, and increase in standing balance, reinforcing the proven benefits of the exercise in this vulnerable population.
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spelling doaj-art-2582942c64474ec288c524c3e35ed7e42025-02-09T12:31:09ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-88225-8Effect of a home-based physical rehabilitation program via virtual reality on the functional outcomes of frail older adults: a quasi-experimental studyDoaa Mohamed Zein El-AbdeenMohamed0Heba Noshy Abd EL-Aziz Mohamed1Soad Hassan Abd Elhameed2Assistant Lecturer in Gerontological Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura UniversityAssistant Professor in Gerontological Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura UniversityProfessor in Gerontological Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura UniversityAbstract Given the rapid aging of the population in Egypt, efforts to slow down or prevent frailty. Virtual reality technology constitutes a promising rehabilitation strategy, but its effect on frailty in older adults remains inconclusive. A non-equivalent control pre, post, and follow-up test design was used with a sample of 70 prefrail or frail older adults. In 3 urbans affiliated to Dakahlia governorate, tools of data collection; Mini-Cog, Structured Interview Schedule, Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe of the Frailty Indicator (FI), Short Physical Performance Battery, and Falls Efficacy Scale. For each group, a significant improvement in frailty, physical performance, and falls from each measurement period to immediately after (p < 0.001), and within the 30-days study period while those in the control group were relatively stable over time and sometime worsen. The baseline characteristics and assessment results were similar between groups. We observed significant improvements in the intervention group in terms of frailty criteria, standing balance, gait speed, chair stand, and fear of fall. No improvements were observed in the control group, we anticipate a decrease in frailty index, and increase in standing balance, reinforcing the proven benefits of the exercise in this vulnerable population.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88225-8EffectHome-basedPhysical rehabilitationVirtual realityFunctional outcomesFrail older adults
spellingShingle Doaa Mohamed Zein El-AbdeenMohamed
Heba Noshy Abd EL-Aziz Mohamed
Soad Hassan Abd Elhameed
Effect of a home-based physical rehabilitation program via virtual reality on the functional outcomes of frail older adults: a quasi-experimental study
Scientific Reports
Effect
Home-based
Physical rehabilitation
Virtual reality
Functional outcomes
Frail older adults
title Effect of a home-based physical rehabilitation program via virtual reality on the functional outcomes of frail older adults: a quasi-experimental study
title_full Effect of a home-based physical rehabilitation program via virtual reality on the functional outcomes of frail older adults: a quasi-experimental study
title_fullStr Effect of a home-based physical rehabilitation program via virtual reality on the functional outcomes of frail older adults: a quasi-experimental study
title_full_unstemmed Effect of a home-based physical rehabilitation program via virtual reality on the functional outcomes of frail older adults: a quasi-experimental study
title_short Effect of a home-based physical rehabilitation program via virtual reality on the functional outcomes of frail older adults: a quasi-experimental study
title_sort effect of a home based physical rehabilitation program via virtual reality on the functional outcomes of frail older adults a quasi experimental study
topic Effect
Home-based
Physical rehabilitation
Virtual reality
Functional outcomes
Frail older adults
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88225-8
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