Virtual reality as a telerehabilitation strategy for people with autism spectrum disorder during the COVID-19 quarantine scenario: physical activity, motor performance and enjoyment.

PURPOSE: People with autism spectrum disorder could benefit from physical activity during the pandemic and COVID-19 restrictions, mainly to maintain adequate physical activity. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility, enjoyment, and potential effect of telerehabilitation using a serious game named 'MoveHero'. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Registered in Clinical Trials (NCT04402034). We adopted a remotely run Telerehabilitation research design with 44 participants recruited: 22 People with ASD people and 22 non-ASD individuals. RESULTS: All participants safely participated, 100% adherence to sessions, ∼60% enjoying the task, and significantly improved performance, with better performance for the NA group at most practice moments. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support both how to implement a gaming intervention and the need to investigate the efficacy of serious games to motivate moderate intensity physical activity in people with ASD.

A new and thrilling way to promote physical activity is through telerehabilitation to people with Autism Spectrum Disorder.A tool that can possibly influence the mood of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Help to implement home-based rehabilitation to people with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Cardiac autonomic modulation in response to postural transition during a virtual reality task in individuals with spinal cord injury: A cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: The postural transition from sitting to standing is a moment of dysautonomic occurrence in individuals with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). Different tools can be used to minimize this event, such as virtual reality. Thus, we aimed to analyze cardiac autonomic modulation in individuals with SCI during postural transition from the sitting to orthostatism position using a cognitive virtual reality (VR) task. METHODS: Individuals with and without SCI were positioned on the Easy Stand® device, sitting at rest, at 0° considering the angle between the seat and the floor, elevation at 45°, and orthostatism at 90°, for 5 minutes in each position. Heart rate variability (HRV) measures of sympathovagal balance were collected (heart rate receiver: Polar V800). The groups were subdivided into two groups, one that performed VR as an intervention during the postural angle changes and another group that did not perform VR. RESULTS: We evaluated 76 individuals, 40 with a medical diagnosis of SCI and 36 who composed the able-bodied control group without SCI, matched by age and sex. The HRV results showed that the SCI group who performed the task in VR demonstrated no significant difference in parasympathetic activation and global variability between the sitting versus 90° positions. There was better sympathovagal balance in SCI and able-bodied control groups who performed the VR task between the sitting versus 90° positions. CONCLUSION: The use of a VR task seems to contribute to better sympathovagal balance, with the potential to reduce dysautonomia during postural changes.

Systematic Review of the Main Motor Scales for Clinical Assessment of Individuals with down Syndrome.

Objective: The aim of the present review was to identify the motor scales currently used to assess individuals with Down Syndrome (DS).Method: PubMed, WOS and BVS databases were systematically searched to identify the most relevant published studies that used motor scales in the evaluation of individuals with DS.Results: Of the 99 studies that met the eligibility criteria in this process, 20 experimental and observational studies were found to fully meet the eligibility criteria.Conclusion: We identified several motor scales including the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS), Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP), BAYLEY, Peabody Gross Motor Scale (PGMS-PDMS-GM), Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC) and Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI).

Achievement of Virtual and Real Objects Using a Short-Term Motor Learning Protocol in People with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Crossover Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) practicing a task in a virtual environment could improve performance given a similar task in a real environment, as well as distinguishing whether there is transference between performing the practice in virtual environment and then a real environment and vice versa. METHODS: Twenty-two people with DMD were evaluated and divided into two groups. The goal was to reach out and touch a red cube. Group A began with the real task and had to touch a real object, and Group B began with the virtual task and had to reach a virtual object using the Kinect system. RESULTS: ANOVA showed that all participants decreased the movement time from the first (M = 973 ms) to the last block of acquisition (M = 783 ms) in both virtual and real tasks and motor learning could be inferred by the short-term retention and transfer task (with increasing distance of the target). However, the evaluation of task performance demonstrated that the virtual task provided an inferior performance when compared to the real task in all phases of the study, and there was no effect for sequence. CONCLUSIONS: Both virtual and real tasks promoted improvement of performance in the acquisition phase, short-term retention, and transfer. However, there was no transference of learning between environments. In conclusion, it is recommended that the use of virtual environments for individuals with DMD needs to be considered carefully.

Motor learning characterization in people with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review / Caracterização da aprendizagem motora em pessoas com transtorno do espectro autista: uma revisão sistemática

ABSTRACT Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder primarily characterized by deficits in social interaction, communication and implicit skill learning. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the results of research on "motor learning" and the means used for measuring "autistic disorder". METHODS: A systematic literature search was done using Medline/PubMed, Web of Science, BVS (virtual health library), and PsycINFO. We included articles that contained the keywords "autism" and "motor learning". The variables considered were the methodological aspects; results presented, and the methodological quality of the studies. RESULTS: A total of 42 studies were identified; 33 articles were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria. Data were extracted from nine eligible studies and summarized. CONCLUSION: We concluded that although individuals with ASD showed performance difficulties in different memory and motor learning tasks, acquisition of skills still takes place in this population; however, this skill acquisition is related to heterogeneous events, occurring without the awareness of the individual.

RESUMO O Transtorno do Espectro Autista (TEA) é uma desordem do desenvolvimento neurológico caracterizada principalmente por déficits na interação social, comunicação e aprendizagem de habilidades implícitas. OBJETIVO: Analisar os resultados da pesquisa sobre "aprendizagem motora" e suas formas de mensurar na "desordem autista". MÉTODOS: Uma pesquisa bibliográfica sistemática foi feita usando Medline/PubMed, Web of Science, BVS (biblioteca virtual de saúde) e PsycINFO. Incluímos artigos que mostraram as palavras-chave "autismo" e "aprendizagem motora". As variáveis consideradas foram os aspectos metodológicos; os resultados apresentados e a qualidade metodológica dos estudos. RESULTADOS: Um total de 42 artigos foram identificados; foram excluídos 33 artigos porque não atendiam aos critérios de inclusão. Os dados foram extraídos de nove estudos elegíveis e resumidos. CONCLUSÃO: Concluímos que, embora as pessoas com TEA tenham demonstrado dificuldades de desempenho em diferentes tarefas de aprendizagem motora de memória, a aquisição de habilidades ocorre nessa população; No entanto, essa aquisição de habilidades está relacionada a eventos heterogêneos, ocorrendo sem a consciência dos indivíduos.

Motor learning through virtual reality in elderly - a systematic review / Aprendizado motor através de realidade virtual em idosos

INTRODUCTION: Decline in physical function is a common feature of older age and has important outcomes in terms of physical health as it relates to quality of life. Our capacity for motor learning allows us to flexibly adapt movements to an ever-changing environment. The term Virtual Reality refers to a wide variety of methods used to simulate an alternative or virtual world. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the results shown in previous studies on motor learning with Virtual Reality use in elderly participants. METHOD: To select the articles, three steps were followed. A systematic literature review was performed without time limitation. The research was carried out using PubMed, BVS and Web of science; considering the keywords, we included articles that showed the following three terms: elderly, virtual reality and motor learning. RESULTS: The initial search yielded 49 articles. After duplicates were removed, two of the authors independently evaluated the title and abstract of each article against the study inclusion criteria. From these, 45 articles were excluded based on title and abstract. Finally, four articles met the inclusion criteria. CONCLUSION: Although few studies were conducted on motor learning in elderly people through virtual reality and, even fewer were of good quality, it was shown that elderly people, with or without a specific disease, can benefit from interventions based on virtual reality to improve motor learning skills.

INTRODUÇÃO: O Declínio da função física é uma característica comum de idade avançada e tem consequências importantes em termos de saúde física e qualidade de vida. Nossa capacidade de aprendizagem motora nos permite adaptar movimentos a um ambiente em constante mudança. A expressão Realidade Virtual refere-se a uma ampla variedade de métodos usados para simular uma alternativa ao mundo virtual. OBJETIVO: Analisar os resultados apresentados em estudos anteriores sobre aprendizagem motora com o uso de Realidade Virtual em participantes idosos. MÉTODO: Para selecionar os artigos, três etapas foram seguidas. Uma revisão sistemática da literatura foi realizada sem limitação de tempo. A pesquisa foi realizada utilizando PubMed, BVS e Web os Science; considerando-se as palavras-chave, incluímos artigos que apresentaram os três seguintes termos:, realidade virtual idosos e aprendizagem motora. RESULTADOS: A busca inicial rendeu 49 artigos. Depois da remoção de duplicações, dois dos autores avaliaram independentemente o título e o resumo de cada artigo em relação aos critérios de inclusão do estudo. Destes, 45 artigos foram excluídos com base no título e resumo. Finalmente, quatro artigos preencheram os critérios de inclusão. CONCLUSÃO: Embora poucos estudos foram encontrados sobre a aprendizagem motora em pessoas idosas através da realidade virtual e, menos ainda eram de boa qualidade, foi mostrado que as pessoas idosas, com ou sem uma doença específica, podem se beneficiar de intervenções com base na realidade virtual para melhorar a habilidades de aprendizagem motora.

Desempenho em uma tarefa de labirinto no computador na síndrome de Down / Maze computer performance in Down syndrome

INTRODUCTION: These changes are the main causes of deficits in perceptual-motor skills responsible for motor skill acquisition and performance of functional activities. : The current study aimed at verifying the quantitative performance of people with DS in undertaking a computer task to compare the performances of typical development (TD). METHODS: 60 subjects participated in the study, 30 with Down's syndrome and 30 with typical development, matched by sex. Individuals were aged from 10-36. The groups were divided into three subgroups by age: Group 1 (G1) 10-18; Group 2 (G2) 18-25; Group 3 (G3) 25-36. They performed a computer maze task. During the acquisition phase all groups attempted the maze 30 times, and then after 5 minutes they performed 5 repetitions of Maze 1 for the retention phase. Finally, for the transfer phase, they performed five repetitions in Maze 2. The dependent variables were submitted to a group, age group, gender and block ANOVA with repeated measures on the last factor. RESULTS: In acquisition phase there was a significant decrease in movement time (MT) between the first and last acquisition block, but only for the DS-group. In retention, there was a significant effect of Group, and an interaction between Block and Group, indicating that MTs increased from retention to transfer, but only for the DS-group. : It was found that participants with DS improved performance during acquisition and retention, but they had difficulty in performing the transfer of the computational task for a similar situation. The age and gender were not significant in any of the stages of the study.

INTRODUÇÃO: A síndrome de Down (SD) apresenta atrasos nas habilidades motoras básicas provavelmente devido a déficits perceptuais-motores, responsáveis pela aquisição de habilidade motora e desempenho em atividades funcionais. OBJETIVO: O presente estudo teve por objetivo verificar o desempenho quantitativo de pessoas com SD na realização de uma tarefa de computador para comparar o desempenho com pessoas com desenvolvimento típico (DT). MÉTODO: 60 pessoas participaram do estudo, 30 com síndrome de Down e 30 com desenvolvimento típico, pareados por idade e sexo. Os participantes tinham idade entre 10-36. Os grupos foram divididos em três subgrupos por idade que realizaram uma tarefa de labirinto no computador Grupo 1 (G1) 10-18 anos, Grupo 2 (G2) 18-25 anos e Grupo 3 (G3) 25-36 anos. Durante a fase de aquisição todos os grupos realizaram 30 vezes o labirinto, e após 5 minutos, realizaram mais 5 repetições do Labirinto 1 para a fase de retenção. Finalmente, para a fase de transferência, 5 repetições foram realizadas no Labirinto 2. As variáveis dependentes foram submetidas a ANOVA para grupo, idade, gênero e bloco com medidas repetidas para o último fator. RESULTADOS: Na fase de aquisição, houve uma redução significativa no tempo de movimento (TM) entre o primeiro e último bloco da aquisição, mas somente para o grupo SD. Na retenção, houve um efeito significativo para Grupo, e uma interação entre Bloco e Grupo, indicando que o TM aumentou da retenção para transferência, mas somente para o Grupo SD. CONCLUSÃO: Verificou-se que os participantes com SD melhoraram o desempenho durante a aquisição e retenção, mas mostraram dificuldade em realizar a transferência da tarefa computacional para um situação similar. Idade e gênero não foram significativas em nenhuma das etapas do estudo.

Motor learning in mobile (cell phone) device in Down syndrome patients - pilot project / Aprendizado motor para portadores de síndrome de down usando um telefone celular - projeto piloto

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to verify if individuals with Down syndrome have improved performance in completing a virtual maze task using a mobile phone. METHOD: For this task, 30 teenagers and young adults were evaluated, 15 Down syndrome patients and 15 typically developed controls. The execution of the task was to play a maze on a mobile phone. The subjects performed 30 repetitions of the maze game in the acquisition phase, five repetitions for retention and five for transfer phase. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare blocks (first and last - A1 - A6 acquisition blocks, retention A6 - R and transfer A6 - T) and Groups (Down syndrome and typical development). RESULTS: The results showed that both groups had significant improvement over time in the acquisition phase, the retention and transfer tests showed that there was performance consolidation for both groups, but with longer movement time in the Down syndrome group. CONCLUSION: Comparing the two groups, individuals with Down syndrome required more time to run the maze in all phases of the task.

OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar se os indivíduos com síndrome de Down melhoram o desempenho em uma tarefa de labirinto virtual usando um telefone celular. MÉTODO: Para esta tarefa, foram avaliados 30 adolescentes e adultos jovens, onde 15 eram parte do grupo experimental e 15 do grupo controle. RESULTADOS: Os resultados mostraram que ambos os grupos apresentavam uma melhoria significativa ao longo do tempo nas fases de aquisição e de retenção. Na fase de transferência, eles foram capazes de manter o desempenho, permitindo uma adaptação da fase de estabilização, que caracteriza a aprendizagem de motora. CONCLUSÃO: Comparando os dois grupos, os indivíduos com SD tem necessidade de um tempo maior para completar o labirinto em todas as fases da tarefa.