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Improved Physiology and Psychosocial Well-Being for Individuals with Physical Disabilities through Virtual Reality Immersion: a Case Study

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Abstract

The purpose of this case study was to examine the physiological and psychosocial effects of an immersive virtual reality (VR) system in a female, young adult with physical disabilities. Mixed-methods. University, City, State, USA. The current study consisted of six sessions over a span of three weeks, with each session lasting approximately 45 min. Physiological factors (upper body mobility, heart rate variability) were assessed via a hand use questionnaire and a heart rate monitor, while psychosocial factors (e.g. positive mood) were assessed through post-session debriefing discussions with the participant. All measures were completed at each of the six VR sessions, with the exception of the hand use questionnaire, which was administered at baseline, and post-intervention. The VR programs selected were specifically chosen to engage upper body and arm movements. Descriptive analyses and coding of interviews were conducted to examine changes throughout the study sessions. The participant reported an increase in hand mobility and psychosocial well-being, such as improvement in mood, as a result of her participation in the VR sessions. The results of this preliminary case study suggest that the use of movement-specific VR programs may be beneficial to individuals with physical disabilities, although future research in larger samples is warranted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Teacher Education, College of Community Innovation and Education, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA

    Bethany Fralish

  2. STEM Education, School of Teacher Education, College of Community Innovation and Education, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA

    Megan Nickels

  3. School of Kinesiology and Physical Therapy, College of Health Professions andSciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA

    Jeanette Garcia

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  1. Bethany Fralish
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  2. Megan Nickels
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  3. Jeanette Garcia
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Correspondence to Megan Nickels.

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Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Fralish, B., Nickels, M. & Garcia, J. Improved Physiology and Psychosocial Well-Being for Individuals with Physical Disabilities through Virtual Reality Immersion: a Case Study. J Dev Phys Disabil 30, 771–782 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-018-9618-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-018-9618-9

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