Current Trends in Virtual Exercise Interventions Among People With Disabilities: A Scoping Review.
Madison Mintz, James Rimmer, Jereme Wilroy and 4 others
PMID 39822202WHAT IT FOUND
Virtual exercise programs for adults with physical disabilities were reported as effective and feasible in most included studies.
Participants generally enjoyed the interventions, though some faced barriers like chronic pain, poor internet connectivity, or difficulty with the technology.
Key findings
01Across the included studies, virtual exercise interventions were reported to be effective, feasible, satisfactory, and usable for people with physical disabilities.
02Participants reported barriers to participation including decreased confidence with equipment, chronic pain, technological difficulties, and lack of resources.
03Facilitators and perceived benefits included enjoyment of the virtual experience, accessibility, pain alleviation, and involvement with program personnel.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The review excluded qualitative studies, gray literature, and studies not focused on physical functioning, which limits the scope of evidence. Only statistically significant results were reported, which may overestimate the effectiveness of the interventions. Effect sizes were not coded, so the magnitude of benefit cannot be determined. The review did not include adolescents, people with cerebral palsy, or those using advanced VR headsets or robotic devices. Missing data from individual studies were omitted, and no efforts were made to locate them.
Declared interests
The investigators have no financial or nonfinancial disclosures to make in relation to this project.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the high rates of reported effectiveness and satisfaction as evidence that virtual exercise is superior to traditional therapy. The review only reported statistically significant results and did not compare virtual interventions to standard care, nor did it assess effect sizes.