Researchers from the University of Waterloo, along with collaborators from the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging have designed innovative exercise programs for seniors using virtual reality technology.
By collaborating with exercise therapists, kinesiologists and persons with dementia, the virtual exercise programs incorporate full body movements, such as rowing a boat, while the immersive virtual scenery provides a welcomed escape from day-to-day indoor environments, which can be distracting or cause sensory overload for persons with dementia. Other activities are specially designed to target crucial exercise movements, such as loading apples for overhead movements, and tracking a moving butterfly to stimulate neck rotations.
The technology helps seniors, especially those with dementia, overcome certain barriers to initiating exercise, as well as provides an avenue for those who may find group exercise environments distressing.
Though the project is still in the early stages of development, they have received positive feedback from seniors who trialed the new programs. Researchers credit some of this feedback and engagement in the project to the choice to co-design and collaborate with persons with dementia to develop the technology.
View video coverage of the project by CTV Kitchener.
PIs: Jennifer Boger and Shi Cao (Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo)
MASc: Mahzar Eisapour (Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo)
Collaborator: Laura Domenicucci (Exercise Therapist, Wentworth Heights, Schlegel Villages)
More information on this project and other projects by this group can be found on their website: ITWIL