Advanced Virtual Exercise Environment Device for Use by Persons With Physical Disabilities (AVEED)

The University of Alabama at Birmingham

Status: Completed

Conditions: Physically Disabled

Treatments: Other: AVEED: Arm rotation, video display; Other: AVEED: Arm rotation, without video display; Other: AVEED: Leg rotation, arm-energy input, without video display; Other: AVEED: Leg rotation, arm-energy input, video display

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT02990507

123UAB

Details and patient eligibility

About

An Advanced Virtual Exercise Environment Device (AVEED) has been developed that incorporates arm and leg ergometers in conjunction with a virtual reality interface. The purpose of this study is to examine participant perspectives regarding the virtual interface and exercise device combination with regard to usability, comfort, safety, rating of perceived exertion, and enjoyment.

Full description

Individuals with physical disabilities show much lower rates of exercise participation than their able-bodied peers (Boslaugh et al. 2006, Preventing Chronic Disease). Much of the reason for the low rates of activity among this population come from the presence of barriers. Lack of motivation, lack of transportation, lack of accessible facilities and equipment, and cost are all factors that discourage exercise participation among those with disabilities (Rimmer et al. 2008, JRRD; Barfield and Malone 2013, JRRD). Based on these factors, there is a need for accessible enjoyable exercise options for people with physical disabilities. The AVEED is comprised of an ergometer with foot and hand pedals, and a visual display in front of the user that can show a variety of scenic pathways.

The AVEED builds on previous work that demonstrates the potential benefit of interactive exercise for those with physical disabilities. The present study will establish the potential of this device to provide an engaging moderate intensity exercise opportunity for persons with disabilities.

Enrollment: 40 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Greater than 18 years old
• Mobility impairment, able to push a manual wheelchair

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals without a disability
• Individuals with vision loss that prevents them from seeing video elements on the screen
• Individuals with unstable cardiovascular conditions
• Individuals unable to push a manual wheelchair
• Individuals unable to understand study directions.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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40 participants in 1 patient group

AVEED

Experimental group

Description:

AVEED is composed of arm and leg cranks that can be used independently or together with a virtual exercise environment (VEE). Participants rotate arm and/or leg cranks under 4 conditions for 5 min each with a 5 min rest between: 1) Arm rotation with VEE, while sitting or standing (AVEED: Arm rotation, video display); 2) Arm rotation without VEE, while sitting or standing (AVEED: Arm rotation, without video display); 3) Leg rotation with arm-energy input to assist the legs with VEE, while sitting (AVEED: Leg rotation, arm-energy input, video display); 4) Leg rotation with arm-energy input to assist the legs without VEE, while sitting (AVEED: Leg rotation, arm-energy input, without video display). VEE controlled with voice commands, leaning, or keyboard buttons.

Treatment:

Other: AVEED: Arm rotation, video display

Other: AVEED: Arm rotation, without video display

Other: AVEED: Leg rotation, arm-energy input, video display

Other: AVEED: Leg rotation, arm-energy input, without video display