Virtual reality for older people: effectiveness of a training program for accident prevention
BackgroundAs people age, physical and cognitive limitations increasingly affect the daily mobility of older adults. Virtual reality (VR) applications offer novel opportunities for senior citizens to enhance their functional abilities. Routine activities, like crossing a street, can be simulated and...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Virtual Reality |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frvir.2025.1553318/full |
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| author | Alina Napetschnig Wolfgang Deiters Klara Brixius |
| author_facet | Alina Napetschnig Wolfgang Deiters Klara Brixius |
| author_sort | Alina Napetschnig |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundAs people age, physical and cognitive limitations increasingly affect the daily mobility of older adults. Virtual reality (VR) applications offer novel opportunities for senior citizens to enhance their functional abilities. Routine activities, like crossing a street, can be simulated and practiced within a virtual environment.ObjectiveThis intervention study investigated the impact of a VR training application (‘Wegfest’) on physical function, fall-related confidence, and cognitive status in senior citizens. It was hypothesized that participation in the VR-based training program would lead to improvements in functional mobility, fall-related self-confidence, and cognitive performance.MethodFor this study, the VR application ‘Wegfest’ was developed to simulate various road scenarios. Over a 4-week training period, senior citizens practiced navigating diverse road-crossing situations. The effectiveness of the application was evaluated through measures of physical and cognitive performance, including the Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test, the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). In total, 29 senior citizens (M = 74.95 years) were recruited, with 20 participants included in the final analysis. Data collection and statistical analyses were performed using a database specifically created for Wegfest.ResultsThe VR application “Wegfest” received positive feedback from participants. Significant improvements were found between pre- and post-intervention measurements for TUG, t (19) = 3.50, p = 0.002, and for FES-I, z = −2.82, p = 0.005. No significant differences were observed in MoCA scores, z = 0.58, p = 0.564.ConclusionVirtual reality (VR) shows promise as an effective tool for supporting older adults in their daily activities. As a pilot (exploratory) study with a small sample size and a relatively high dropout rate, the results should be interpreted as preliminary and indicative rather than conclusive. The lack of behavioral outcome measures further underscores the exploratory nature of this investigation. Further research with larger samples and more comprehensive outcome measures is needed to evaluate the effectiveness and generalizability of ‘Wegfest’ and similar VR applications for enhancing everyday mobility. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-364bf78439024f4384e2bfc0c0eeb89f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-4192 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Virtual Reality |
| spelling | doaj-art-364bf78439024f4384e2bfc0c0eeb89f2025-08-20T03:44:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Virtual Reality2673-41922025-08-01610.3389/frvir.2025.15533181553318Virtual reality for older people: effectiveness of a training program for accident preventionAlina Napetschnig0Wolfgang Deiters1Klara Brixius2Department of Health Sciences, Hochschule Bochum - Gesundheitscampus, Bochum, GermanyDepartment of Health Sciences, Hochschule Bochum - Gesundheitscampus, Bochum, GermanyInstitute for Circulatory Research and Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, North RhineWestphalia, GermanyBackgroundAs people age, physical and cognitive limitations increasingly affect the daily mobility of older adults. Virtual reality (VR) applications offer novel opportunities for senior citizens to enhance their functional abilities. Routine activities, like crossing a street, can be simulated and practiced within a virtual environment.ObjectiveThis intervention study investigated the impact of a VR training application (‘Wegfest’) on physical function, fall-related confidence, and cognitive status in senior citizens. It was hypothesized that participation in the VR-based training program would lead to improvements in functional mobility, fall-related self-confidence, and cognitive performance.MethodFor this study, the VR application ‘Wegfest’ was developed to simulate various road scenarios. Over a 4-week training period, senior citizens practiced navigating diverse road-crossing situations. The effectiveness of the application was evaluated through measures of physical and cognitive performance, including the Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test, the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). In total, 29 senior citizens (M = 74.95 years) were recruited, with 20 participants included in the final analysis. Data collection and statistical analyses were performed using a database specifically created for Wegfest.ResultsThe VR application “Wegfest” received positive feedback from participants. Significant improvements were found between pre- and post-intervention measurements for TUG, t (19) = 3.50, p = 0.002, and for FES-I, z = −2.82, p = 0.005. No significant differences were observed in MoCA scores, z = 0.58, p = 0.564.ConclusionVirtual reality (VR) shows promise as an effective tool for supporting older adults in their daily activities. As a pilot (exploratory) study with a small sample size and a relatively high dropout rate, the results should be interpreted as preliminary and indicative rather than conclusive. The lack of behavioral outcome measures further underscores the exploratory nature of this investigation. Further research with larger samples and more comprehensive outcome measures is needed to evaluate the effectiveness and generalizability of ‘Wegfest’ and similar VR applications for enhancing everyday mobility.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frvir.2025.1553318/fullvirtual realitysenior citizentraining applicationcrossing the roadhealthy ageing |
| spellingShingle | Alina Napetschnig Wolfgang Deiters Klara Brixius Virtual reality for older people: effectiveness of a training program for accident prevention Frontiers in Virtual Reality virtual reality senior citizen training application crossing the road healthy ageing |
| title | Virtual reality for older people: effectiveness of a training program for accident prevention |
| title_full | Virtual reality for older people: effectiveness of a training program for accident prevention |
| title_fullStr | Virtual reality for older people: effectiveness of a training program for accident prevention |
| title_full_unstemmed | Virtual reality for older people: effectiveness of a training program for accident prevention |
| title_short | Virtual reality for older people: effectiveness of a training program for accident prevention |
| title_sort | virtual reality for older people effectiveness of a training program for accident prevention |
| topic | virtual reality senior citizen training application crossing the road healthy ageing |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frvir.2025.1553318/full |
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