Augmented Reality Treadmill Walking for Cognitive and Physical Health in Older Adults (ART-Walk)

National Taiwan College of Performing Arts

Status: Completed

Conditions: Aging; Balance Impairment; Cognitive Decline; Mobility Limitation; Sarcopenia

Treatments: Device: JOHNSON 8.1T treadmill with Passport AR system; Device: Traditional Treadmill Walking

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07074613

114-86

IRB No. 114-86 (Other Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study evaluated the feasibility and health effects of using augmented reality (AR) treadmill walking in older adults. Sixty community-dwelling adults aged 65 to 80 years were randomly assigned to either an AR treadmill group or a traditional treadmill group. Both groups participated in supervised walking sessions three times per week for twelve weeks. The study examined changes in mobility, balance, body composition, physiological responses, and participants' perceptions of the AR technology.

Full description

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of augmented reality (AR) treadmill walking on mobility-related motor function, body composition, physiological responses, and technology acceptance among older adults. A total of 60 community-dwelling adults aged 65 to 80 years were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (AR treadmill walking) or a control group (traditional treadmill walking).

Participants in both groups engaged in supervised walking sessions three times per week for twelve weeks. Each session lasted 60 minutes, including a 10-minute warm-up, 40-minute treadmill walking, and a 10-minute cool-down. The AR treadmill (JOHNSON 8.1T) provided immersive visual environments and real-time feedback on physiological data. The control group used a standard treadmill (CHANSON CS-6630) without AR features.

Primary outcome measures included stride length, gait speed, and balance. Secondary outcomes included skeletal muscle mass, body fat mass, body fat percentage, heart rate, calorie expenditure, walking distance, and technology acceptance assessed by a validated questionnaire.

Statistical analysis included repeated-measures ANOVA, independent t-tests, and Pearson correlation analysis to examine group differences and associations between physiological responses and technology acceptance.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Community-dwelling adults aged 65 to 80 years

Able to walk independently without assistive devices

Cognitively intact and able to follow instructions

No prior use of augmented reality (AR) exercise programs within the past 3 months

Willing to participate in the study and provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Diagnosed with chronic conditions that impair mobility (e.g., cardiovascular disease, severe arthritis)

Severe visual or auditory impairments that affect interaction with AR equipment

Neurological or psychiatric disorders that may interfere with participation

Known susceptibility to motion sickness or discomfort with virtual environments (AR-induced discomfort)

Inability to complete the 12-week training protocol or attend scheduled assessments

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

Experimental: Augmented Reality Treadmill Walking

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this group performed treadmill walking using the JOHNSON 8.1T treadmill with Passport AR system. The device provided immersive visual environments (e.g., forest trails, hills) and real-time feedback on heart rate, speed, and distance. Each participant completed supervised walking sessions 3 times per week for 12 weeks, with each session lasting 60 minutes (10-minute warm-up, 40-minute walking, 10-minute cool-down).

Treatment:

Device: JOHNSON 8.1T treadmill with Passport AR system

Active Comparator: Traditional Treadmill Walking

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants in this group performed treadmill walking using the CHANSON CS-6630 treadmill, which provided standard speed, time, and distance tracking without augmented reality features. Each participant completed supervised walking sessions 3 times per week for 12 weeks, with each session lasting 60 minutes (10-minute warm-up, 40-minute walking, 10-minute cool-down).

Treatment:

Device: Traditional Treadmill Walking