Effects of using immersive virtual reality on time and steps during a locomotor task in young adults

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 17; no. 10; p. e0275876
• Main Authors: Renaux, Alexandre, Muhla, Frédéric, Clanché, Fabien, Meyer, Philippe, Maïaux, Séverine, Colnat-Coulbois, Sophie, Gauchard, Gérome
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Francisco Public Library of Science 10-10-2022; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adults; Biology and Life Sciences; Computer and Information Sciences; Computer applications; Engineering and Technology; Evaluation; Gait; Health care; Immersive virtual reality; Life Sciences; Locomotion; Motor task performance; Neurons and Cognition; Older people; Optic flow; People and Places; Physical fitness; Physiological aspects; Population; Quantitative Methods; Social Sciences; Technology application; Virtual reality; Walking; Young adults; France; Young people; Virtual reality · Biofeedback · User engagement · Agency · User study; Locomotor behavior
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275876

Immersive virtual reality makes possible to perceive and interact in a standardized, reproductible and digital environment, with a wide range of simulated situations possibilities. This study aimed to measure the potential effect of virtual reality on time and number of steps when performing a locomotor task, in a young adult’s population. Sixty young adults (32W, 28M, mean age 21.55 ± 1.32), who had their first immersive virtual reality experience, performed a locomotor task based on "Timed Up and Go" (TUG) task in real, in virtual reality in a stopped train and in virtual reality in a moving train. Time and number of steps variables representing primary locomotion indicators were measured and compared between each condition. Results showed significant increases in time and number of steps in the two virtual reality conditions compared to real but not between the two virtual reality conditions. There was an effect of virtual reality in young adults when performing the locomotor task. It means that technological and digital characteristics of the immersive virtual reality experience led to modify motor strategies employed. Adding a plausible visual optic flow did not appear to affect motor control further when the information is negligible and not essential for performing the task.