Virtual Exercise for Health Maintenance in Older Adults

(PAVE Trial)

Overseen By Brittany Burch, PhD, MSN, RN

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Maryland, Baltimore

Disqualifiers: Cognitive impairment, Nausea, Syncope, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 7 days

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether virtual reality exercise (PAVE intervention) can help older adults maintain muscle strength and stay active while hospitalized. Participants will either use a virtual reality headset for physical activities or receive education on physical activity from a booklet. The trial targets individuals aged 60 or older admitted to a medical floor. The goal is to determine if this technology can support both physical and mental health during hospital stays. As an unphased trial, it offers participants a unique opportunity to explore innovative technology that could enhance their hospital experience and overall well-being.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on physical activity, so it's best to ask the trial coordinators for more details.

What prior data suggests that this virtual reality intervention is safe for older adults?

Research has shown that virtual reality (VR) headsets are generally safe for older adults. In past studies, older adults used VR headsets for exercise without major risks or side effects. Another study found that VR exercise is not only safe but also enjoyable for older adults, whether at home or in a care facility. These findings suggest that the PAVE program, which uses VR for physical activity, is likely well-tolerated. While no treatment is completely without risk, the available evidence supports VR as a safe option for staying active. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the PAVE intervention because it uses virtual reality (VR) to promote physical activity among older adults, which is a novel approach compared to traditional exercise programs. Unlike standard physical activity methods that might involve in-person classes or self-directed exercises, the PAVE intervention allows participants to engage in physical activity through an immersive VR experience during their hospital stay. This innovative use of VR technology not only aims to make exercise more engaging and accessible but also has the potential to improve adherence to physical activity recommendations and enhance overall health outcomes for older adults.

What evidence suggests that the PAVE intervention is effective for maintaining physical function in older adults?

Studies have shown that digital exercise programs can help older adults become more active. Research suggests that virtual reality exercise can improve balance, walking, and mental health. In this trial, participants in the PAVE intervention arm will use a virtual reality headset for physical activity during their hospital stay. Other studies have found that people who join online exercise programs perform better physically than those who don't. Those who increase their activity levels often notice improvements in fitness, walking speed, and memory. This suggests that virtual reality could help older adults stay strong and mentally healthy during hospital stays. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Brittany Burch, PhD, MSN, RN

Principal Investigator

University of Maryland Baltiomre

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

The PAVE clinical trial is for older adults who are currently hospitalized. It aims to help them maintain physical function and mental health by engaging in virtual reality-based physical activities.

Inclusion Criteria

I am 60 years or older and admitted to the hospital.

Exclusion Criteria

I have a medical device that makes physical activity unsafe.

Patients who score 3 or lower on the Mini-Cog Assessment

Patients who received the education control intervention during a prior admission

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

Treatment

Participants receive the PAVE virtual reality physical activity intervention or education control during their hospital stay

7 days

Daily virtual reality sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for physical function and mental health after the intervention

1 week

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• PAVE intervention

Trial Overview This study tests the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a virtual reality intervention (PAVE) compared to standard education control in promoting physical activity among hospitalized older adults.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: PAVE intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

PAVE participants will be trained to use the virtual reality headset and perform virtual reality physical activity throughout their hospital stay.

Group II: Education control Active Control 1 Intervention

Education control will receive physical activity education using the NIH "Get Fit for Life" booklet.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Maryland, Baltimore

Lead Sponsor

Trials

729

Recruited

540,000+

The Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers

Collaborator

Trials

11

Recruited

350+

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Collaborator

Trials

1,841

Recruited

28,150,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11658456/

The effectiveness of digital physical activity interventions in ... Evidence from 22 reviews and meta-analyses suggests that digital physical activity interventions are effective at increasing physical activity in older adults.

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0197457223002094

Effectiveness of an online multicomponent physical ... The multicomponent physical exercise intervention group showed a significant improvement in physical performance compared to the control group. •. The physical ...

3. nursingsimulation.org nursingsimulation.org/article/S1876-1399(24)00085-9/fulltext

Effectiveness of Immersive Virtual Reality ... The studies indicated significant improvements in physical outcomes such as balance and gait, as well as psychological benefits including ...

4. academic.oup.com academic.oup.com/ageing/article/51/11/afac243/6806169

Effectiveness of home-based exercise delivered by digital ... Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of HBE programs delivered by DHI on physical function, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) improvement and ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9832427/

The effects of a moderate physical activity intervention on ... Those who increased their physical activity with 35% or more show significant improvements in aerobic capacity, gait speed, verbal memory, executive ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12106364/

Virtual reality solution to promote adapted physical activity ... The present study aimed to explore and measure the impact on older adults' quality of life and physical activity of using VR2Care solution.

7. aging.jmir.org aging.jmir.org/2025/1/e65746

Technology-Assisted Physical Activity Interventions for Older ... Previous research has reported that such interventions benefit body composition, aerobic fitness, cognitive abilities, and postural control, ...

8. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876139924000859

Effectiveness of Immersive Virtual Reality Simulation ... VR can be a beneficial assistive health technology for older adults, with the potential to assess and increase physical activity and mental conditions and ...

9. researchprotocols.org researchprotocols.org/2024/1/e53261/

The Effectiveness of Virtual Reality–Based Training on ... The results confirm that VR-HMDs are safe for use by high-functioning healthy older adults at home without substantial risks or side effects.

10. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11807768/

Non-Immersive Virtual Reality Exercise Can ... - PubMed Central Non-immersive virtual reality for home-based and facility-based older adults is safe, enjoyable and feasible and may increase users' weekly levels of physical ...