VR Clinical Research: Promises and Challenges
"A good [study] design will contrast a VR experience with a non-VR equivalent of the same experience, controlling for the effects of the medium compared to the media."
(Garrett, et al. in JMIR Serious Games, 2018)
![[Purpose] The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a virtual reality exercise
program (VREP) on physical fitness, body composition, and fatigue in hemodialysis (HD) patients with end-stage
renal failure. [Subjects and Methods] A nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. Forty-six HD
patients were divided into exercise (n=23) and control groups (n=23); while waiting for their dialyses, the exercise
group followed a VREP, and the control group received only their usual care. The VREP was accomplished using
Nintendo’s Wii Fit Plus for 40 minutes, 3 times a week for 8 weeks during the period of May 27 to July 19, 2013.
Physical fitness (muscle strength, balance, flexibility), body composition (skeletal muscle mass, body fat rate, arm
and leg muscle mass), and fatigue were measured at baseline and after the intervention. [Results] After the VREP,
physical fitness and body composition significantly increased, and the level of fatigue significantly decreased in
the exercise group. [Conclusion] These results suggest that a VREP improves physical fitness, body composition,
and fatigue in HD patients. Based on the findings, VREPs should be used as a health promotion programs for HD patients. (Cho, et al., J Phys Ther Sci, 2014)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/bfd710_7c57655a316d42ce91d403b60143b58c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_620,h_367,q_90/bfd710_7c57655a316d42ce91d403b60143b58c~mv2.webp)