Effects of virtual reality exercise for Korean adults with schizophrenia in a closed ward

• Published in: Journal of exercise rehabilitation Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 39 - 48
• Main Authors: Jo, Garam, Rossow-Kimball, Brenda, Park, Gwitaek, Lee, Yongho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Korean Society of Exercise Rehabilitation 01.02.2018; 한국운동재활학회
• Subjects: Original; 심리과학; Schizophrenia; Virtual reality exercise; Mental health
• ISSN: 2288-176X; 2288-1778
• DOI: 10.12965/jer.1835168.584

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of virtual reality exercise (VRE) using Nintendo Wii-Fit on physical fitness of Korean adults with schizophrenia living in a mental health facility located in South Korea. Two male participants diagnosed with schizophrenia, ages 53 and 61, were recruited and selected for inclusion in this study. The intervention using the Nintendo Wii-Fit consisted of 35-min ses-sions, 3 times per week for 8 weeks and was facilitated by the primary researcher and two graduate students. The senior fitness test and 10-m walking test were used to measure the physical functioning, specifical-ly, physical fitness and mobility, of the participants. The study was divid-ed into three phases using an A-B-A single-subject design and involved multiple repeated measures of functional physical fitness. Both partici-pants were evaluated each week for the duration of 18 weeks. Both participants exhibited measureable improvement in some of the physi-cal fitness measures, but not in the mobility. These results thus provide preliminary evidence to support the use of VRE to improve physical function for Korean adults with schizophrenia as an alternative exercise regimen to the conventional exercise.