title: Individualized feedback-based virtual reality exercise improves older women's self-perceived health: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Individualized feedback-based virtual reality (IFVR) exercise is gaining attention as a cost-effective self-management strategy, however little is known about whether older adults themselves perceive IFVR exercise effective in improving their health. Therefore, we studied the effect of IFVR exercise on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four older women aged ≥65 years were randomized to either IFVR exercise group (IFVRG, n=26) or group-based exercise group (GG, n=28). Both groups received a 60-min intervention three times a week for eight weeks. The Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) was administered. To identify the possible placebo effect, 30-Second Chair Stand Test (30SCST), 8-Foot Up-and-Go Test (8FUGT), and 2-Minute Step Test (2MST) were also administered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  intention-to-treat analysis with adjustment for baseline levels revealed that IFVRG showed greater improvement in mental health (p=0.029) and lower body strength (p=0.042), compared to GG. Within-group analysis for HRQoL revealed that IFVRG showed an increase in role-physical (p=0.015), bodily pain (p=0.017), general health (p=0.004), vitality (p=0.010), role-emotional (p=0.007), and mental health (p<0.001), whereas GG showed an increase in role-physical (p=0.022), general health (p=0.023), and social functioning (p = 0.023). Both groups showed an increase in 30SCST, 2MST and 8FUGT (all p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IFVR exercise improved HRQoL in older women, in addition to improving physical fitness. Therefore, it might be recommended to older women as an effective self-management strategy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Minyoung
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Jaebum
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Son
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jungjin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: yoonbc@korea.ac.kr.
authors.forename: BumChul
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000523:psychology*; D015990:Placebo Effect; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Mental health; Older adult; Physical fitness; Quality of life; Virtual reality