What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: RCT. Population: Developmental disability (n=17). Intervention: Virtual reality-delivered exercise program (VR-E) vs. Waitlist-control. Primary outcome: Change in augmentation index at 75 beats per minute (AIx75) (Eta squared 0.01, p=0.7).

October 1, 2025Preventive Medicine Reports1 citationsOpen Access

The impact of a workplace virtual reality-delivered exercise program on central hemodynamics in people with developmental disability living in Australia: A pilot randomised waitlist-controlled study

JRJoyce S. RamosFlinders University JAJune AlexanderFlinders University LDLance C. DalleckWestern Colorado University

Key Result

An 8-week workplace virtual reality-delivered exercise program did not significantly improve central hemodynamic indices compared to waitlist-control in people with developmental disability.

Study Design

Type

RCT (n=17)

Blinding

Assessor-blinded

Randomization

Random permuted blocks

Multicenter

Structured PICO

Does a workplace virtual reality-delivered exercise program improve central hemodynamic indices in people with developmental disability?

Population

17 adults with developmental disability employed at a disability service, mean age 36, 77% male (VR-E) / 67% male (control), based in Australia. Exclusions included epilepsy, recent seizures, limited arm/hand movement, visual impairments, unstable angina, severe valvular heart disease, pulmonary disease, cardiomyopathy, recent MI, uncontrolled hypertension, and kidney failure.

Intervention

Virtual reality-delivered exercise (VR-E) program, consisting of a 1-hour supervised session at the workplace, 3 times per week for 8 weeks.

Comparator

Waitlist-control (no intervention for the first 8 weeks, followed by crossover to the VR-E program).

Outcome

Central hemodynamic indices (CHI) including augmentation index at 75 beats per minute (AIx75), forward pressure wave (Pfw), and backward pressure wave (Pbw) assessed via cuff oscillometry at 8 weeks.surrogate

A workplace-integrated virtual reality exercise program is safe and feasible, showing potential small but non-significant improvements in central hemodynamics for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Main Result

Effect estimate: Eta squared 0.01

Absolute Event Rate: -4% vs -1%

p-value: p=0.7

Limitations

Small sample size
VR-E program may not have provided sufficient exercise intensity to enable significant changes
Use of an indirect measure of central hemodynamic indices via the cuff oscillometric method

Abstract

Abnormalities of central hemodynamic indices (CHI) elevate risk of cardiovascular events (CVE) and all-cause mortality. Most people with developmental disability do not meet the exercise recommendations necessary to improve health outcomes, including CHI. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the impact of a workplace integrated virtual reality-delivered exercise (VR-E) program compared with no intervention on CHI in people with developmental disability. Seventeen people with developmental disability employed at a disability service were randomised into VR-E ( n = 8) or waitlist-control ( n = 9). The VR-E group completed a 1-h supervised session at the workplace, three times/week for eight weeks. Following an eight-week period, the waitlist-control group also underwent the program. CHI were assessed at pre- and post-intervention via cuff oscillometry. There are 21 complete CHI data (VR-E, n = 13; waitlist-control, n = 8) from pre- to post-8-week period. There were no significant between-group differences in CHI changes from pre- to post-8-week period ( p > 0.05). However, although not statistically significant between-groups (augmentation index at 75 beats per minute AIx75, p = 0.7; forward pressure wave Pfw, p = 0.6; backward pressure wave Pbw, p = 0.7), the VR-E group showed a small improvement in CHI including AIx75 (−4 ± 11 %, d = 0.23), Pfw (−1.5 ± 8 mmHg,d = 0.18), and Pbw (−0.7 ± 5 mmHg,d = 0.25). Whereas the waitlist-control group showed negligible changes in these CHI (AIx75, −1 ± 19 %, d = 0.06; Pf, 0.5 ± 4 mmHg, d < 0.01; Pb, <0.01 ± 4 mmHg, d < 0.01) from pre- to post-study. This pilot study suggests that a workplace-integrated VR-E may be a viable intervention to improve CHI, which may indicate reduced CVE risk and all-cause mortality in people with developmental disability. • Integrating exercise programs in a workplace using virtual reality may be safe. • A workplace-integrated virtual reality exercise program could enhance heart health. • Implementing a workplace virtual reality exercise may improve functional independence.

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