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Researchers are harnessing the power of virtual reality (VR) to motivate individuals in South Australia who have intellectual disabilities to engage in regular physical exercise. This groundbreaking initiative uses a cutting-edge gaming programme that aims to instil positive exercise habits and reduce the heightened risk of early-onset cardiovascular diseases, strokes, and heart attacks among this demographic.
Led by Dr June Alexander and Dr Joyce Ramos from Flinders University, this VR-based exercise programme spans eight weeks and targets 16 participants affiliated with the second-largest employer of people with disability in Australia. The primary goal is to inspire individuals with intellectual disabilities to incorporate intensive exercise routines into their daily lives while fostering a long-term commitment to physical fitness.
To achieve this, the programme calls for volunteers to partake in one-hour supervised sessions three times a week, employing commercially available VR technology provided by the employer. Each session immerses participants in 50 minutes of exercise through popular gaming apps and an array of other interactive games.
Flinders University’s researchers monitor several parameters during the trial, including heart rate, rate of perceived exertion, and intensity volume. These metrics are meticulously recorded to track the participants’ physical progress and ensure their safety throughout the programme.
One of the key advantages of this approach is the decreasing cost of commercially available VR systems in recent years. This affordability breakthrough now enables individuals with disabilities to access a diverse range of safe and engaging activities that they may have previously been excluded from.
Dr June Alexander, a lecturer in Disability and Inclusion in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Flinders University, underscores the critical need for this initiative. She pointed out that most Australians with developmental disabilities fail to meet the globally recommended minimum levels of physical activity necessary for good health. This shortfall heightens their susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases.
The reluctance of people with intellectual disabilities to engage in regular exercise often stems from low motivation and limited access to mainstream health and fitness facilities, such as gyms. The innovative VR programme’s primary aim is to help participants surmount these obstacles and establish a more active lifestyle. The exercise programme will assess the overall impact of regular, tailored VR activities compared to those who do not receive this experimental treatment.
Dr. Joyce Ramos, an accredited exercise physiologist and senior lecturer at Flinders University, underscored the programme’s potential to transform lives. She envisions the initiative as a pilot project that could eventually be scaled up to assist individuals with intellectual disabilities across Australia in meeting their weekly exercise requirements. Importantly, the VR-based health study is developing evidence-based systems that can enhance physical activity levels and overall quality of life for individuals with intellectual disabilities, particularly those residing in regional and rural areas of Australia who may lack easy access to similar on-site services.
The Chief Operating Officer of the employment company emphasised the significance of this research. Researching the benefits of VR technology on fitness levels for people with disabilities represents a positive stride forward, offering a fun and engaging means to remain active and increase adherence to exercise routines.
The integration of virtual reality technology into exercise programmes holds immense promise for individuals with intellectual disabilities. This approach leverages VR’s immersive and interactive capabilities to address longstanding barriers to physical fitness.
Traditional barriers, such as a lack of motivation and limited access to mainstream health and fitness facilities, have contributed to the low levels of physical activity observed among individuals with intellectual disabilities. However, recent advancements in VR technology have paved the way for a paradigm shift in how exercise is approached and experienced by this demographic.
The integration of virtual reality technology into exercise programs has the potential to revolutionise the way individuals with intellectual disabilities engage with physical fitness. This innovative approach addresses longstanding barriers and provides an exciting avenue for improving the health and well-being of this population.
As the cost of VR technology continues to decrease, it becomes increasingly accessible, offering new possibilities for inclusive and engaging exercise experiences. Researchers at Flinders University, along with industry partners, are at the forefront of this transformative endeavour, pioneering evidence-based systems that have the potential to positively impact the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities across Australia and beyond.
