Investigation of the Effects of Aerobic Exercise Training and Virtual Reality-Based Games on Children

Investigation of the Effects of Aerobic Exercise Training and Virtual Reality-Based Games on Functional Capacity, Activity, and Participation in Children Between 6 and 10 Years of Age Under Protection and Care,

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise training and virtual reality-based games on functional capacity, activity and participation. 63 children between the ages of 6-10, living under protection and care, were randomly assigned to participate in the study. Individuals in the aerobic exercise training and virtual reality-based game group received 24 training sessions, 2 days a week, for 12 weeks. The control group received no training and was asked to continue their normal lives. All study participants were assessed before and after the 12-week training.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Child, Only; Virtual Reality; Aerobic Exercise
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: aerobic exercise group; Other: Virtual Reality-Based Game group

Detailed Description

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise training and virtual reality-based games on functional capacity, activity and participation. 63 children (Aerobic exercise=21, virtual reality-based game=21, control=21) between the ages of 6-10, living under protection and care, were randomly assigned to participate in the study. Individuals in the aerobic exercise training and virtual reality-based game group received 24 training sessions, 2 days a week, for 12 weeks. The control group received no training and was asked to continue their normal lives. All study participants were assessed before and after the 12-week training. Functional capacity was assessed using the 6-minute walk test. Body image measurements were assessed using the Physical Self-Assessment Scale. Physical activity levels were assessed using the Physical Activity Scale. Participation was assessed using the Child and Adolescent Participation Survey.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 63
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Province
    • Gaziantep, Province, Turkey (Türkiye), 27410
      • Hasan Kalyoncu University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• The following volunteers participated in the study
• Children residing in the Şahinbey and Şehitkamil Children's Homes Complex,
• Participants aged between 6 and 10 years old.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children with neurological and psychological illnesses severe enough to prevent participation in exercise training,
• Children who have undergone surgery within the last 3 months,
• Children with learning disabilities,
• Children who perform moderate-intensity aerobic exercise for more than 150 minutes at least 3 days a week,
• Children with multiple organ dysfunction were excluded from the study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: fonksiyonel kapasite; The 6-minute walk test was used to measure functional capacity. This test is performed at the person's own walking speed.	Other: aerobic exercise group; The exercises consisted of 10 minutes of warm-up exercises, 20 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercises, and 10 minutes of cool-down exercises.; Other: Virtual Reality-Based Game group; Children in this group were given virtual reality-based games twice a week for 12 weeks, totaling 24 sessions, under the supervision of a specialist physiotherapist. Each session was planned to last 20-25 minutes. There would be 4-5 repetitions depending on the difficulty level of the games, with 1-minute rest breaks between each repetition.
Active Comparator: Fiziksel Aktivite Seviyesi; The Children's Physical Activity Scale was used to assess the physical activity levels of the children included in the study.	Other: aerobic exercise group; The exercises consisted of 10 minutes of warm-up exercises, 20 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercises, and 10 minutes of cool-down exercises.; Other: Virtual Reality-Based Game group; Children in this group were given virtual reality-based games twice a week for 12 weeks, totaling 24 sessions, under the supervision of a specialist physiotherapist. Each session was planned to last 20-25 minutes. There would be 4-5 repetitions depending on the difficulty level of the games, with 1-minute rest breaks between each repetition.
Active Comparator: katılım; Participation assessments were conducted using the Child and Adolescent Participation Questionnaire.	Other: aerobic exercise group; The exercises consisted of 10 minutes of warm-up exercises, 20 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercises, and 10 minutes of cool-down exercises.; Other: Virtual Reality-Based Game group; Children in this group were given virtual reality-based games twice a week for 12 weeks, totaling 24 sessions, under the supervision of a specialist physiotherapist. Each session was planned to last 20-25 minutes. There would be 4-5 repetitions depending on the difficulty level of the games, with 1-minute rest breaks between each repetition.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
first review	All children who agreed to participate in the study underwent initial assessments. Functional capacity assessment was performed using the 6-minute walk test. Body image measurements were assessed using the Physical Self-Concept Scale(min:1-max:5). Physical activity levels were assessed using the Physical Activity Scale(min:1-max:5) Participation assessment was performed using the Child Adolescent Participation Questionnaire(min:0-max:4)	2 weeks before the start of the work

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
last review	Final assessments have been conducted for all children who completed the 12-week training period. Functional capacity assessment was performed using the 6-minute walk test. Body image measurements were assessed using the Physical Self-Concept Scale(min:1-max:6). Physical activity levels were assessed using the Physical Activity Scale(min:1-max:5) Participation assessment was performed using the Child Adolescent Participation Questionnaire(min:0-max:4).	Immediately after the completion of the 12-week training
within-group comparison of results	The evaluations conducted at the end of the study showed that both interventions were effective in terms of functional capacity(6- minute walk test), physical activity level( Physical Activity Scale(min:1-max:5). participation (Child Adolescent Participation Questionnaire(min:0-max:4) body composition (Physical Self-Concept Scale min:1-max:6) and functionality parameters.	When the final assessments are complete and all the data is collected
comparison of results between groups	In intergroup assessments, it was found that the aerobic exercise group was more effective than the virtual reality-based game group in activity, body structure and functionality, and participation assessments. It was found that the virtual reality-based game group was more effective than the aerobic exercise training group in activity, body structure and functionality, and participation assessments.	When the final assessments are complete and all the data is collected

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hasan Kalyoncu University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: neslihan torun kızmaz, doctor physiotherapist, Hasan Kalyoncu University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 15, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 28, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 4, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 8, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 8, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 4, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Aerobic Exercise; functional capacity; activity; participation; virtual reality-based game
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavior; Motor Activity
• Other Study ID Numbers: HasanKUniversitesi

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No