Eight-week virtual reality training improves lower extremity muscle strength but not balance in adolescents with intellectual disability: A randomized controlled trial

Purpose: This study aims to assess the effects of 8-week virtual reality (VR) training on balance and lower extremity muscle strength in adolescents with intellectual disability (ID). Methods: Thirty adolescents with intellectual disability were randomly divided into the virtual reality group and control group. The participants in the virtual reality group and the control group received the virtual reality training and the physical education (PE) course, respectively, for 8 weeks. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and lower extremity muscle strength were measured before and after the training. Results: The between-group results showed that the participants in the virtual reality group increased the muscle strength of hip flexors (p < 0.001), hip extensors (p = 0.002), hip abductors (p < 0.001), knee flexors (p < 0.001), knee extensors (p = 0.002) and ankle plantar flexors (p = 0.042) significantly after training, compared to the control group. However, no significant improvement was found in the berg balance scale and timed up and go scores between the virtual reality group and control group after training (p > 0.05). The within-group results showed that the strength of all the muscle groups significantly increased after training in the virtual reality group (p < 0.05) compared to the baseline. However, no significant difference was found in the muscle strength in the control group before and after training. The within-group berg balance scale and timed up and go scores showed no significant improvements in both groups. Conclusion: Virtual reality training intervention might be effective in improving the lower extremity muscle strength, but no significant improvement was found on balance ability in adolescents with intellectual disability.