Feasibility of a virtual reality-based exercise intervention and low-cost motion tracking method for estimation of motor proficiency in youth with autism spectrum disorder.

The final analysed sample was ten children and adolescents, after 21 were assessed and 14 were determined eligible. There was no control group and no comparison with typically developing children. The intervention lasted two weeks with six 20-minute sessions, which the authors state may have weakened any intervention effect. Participants were a convenience community sample, and the authors note limited generalisability to younger children with lower IQ, minimally verbal children or those with clinically significant anxiety. The analysis focused on jumping jacks, so it does not show whether the method works for other movement tasks. Usability was average, and mild to moderate side effects were reported, including some severe eye strain and blurred vision. Parents were mostly unsure whether the game improved motor skills in the real world, and cost and space were major home barriers.

The supplied text does not include an author conflict-of-interest statement or funding details beyond the metadata category Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't.

Do not conclude that the VR game, Kinect camera and headset system improves motor skills or cognitive flexibility in autism. The pre-post BOT-2 and DCCS changes were not statistically significant, and the study was a ten-participant feasibility pilot without a control group.