Affiliations: Department of Physical Therapy, University of North
Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA | Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo,
Egypt | Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL,
USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Yasser Salem, Physical
Therapy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie
Blvd., MET 537. Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA. Tel.: +1 817 735 2982; Fax: +1 817
735 2518; E-mail: yasser.salem@unthsc.edu
Abstract: Children who are critically ill are frequently viewed as "too sick"
to tolerate physical activity. As a result, these children often fail to
develop strength or cardiovascular endurance as compared to typically
developing children. Previous reports have shown that early participation in
physical activity in is safe and feasible for patients who are critically ill
and may result in a shorter length of stay and improved functional outcomes.
The use of the virtual reality gaming systems has become a popular form of
therapy for children with disabilities and has been supported by a growing body
of evidence substantiating its effectiveness with this population. The use of
the virtual reality gaming systems in pediatric rehabilitation provides the
children with opportunity to participate in an exercise program that is fun,
enjoyable, playful, and at the same time beneficial. The integration of those
systems in rehabilitation of children who are critically ill is appealing and
has the potential to offer the possibility of enhancing physical activities.
The lack of training studies involving children who are critically ill makes it
difficult to set guidelines on the recommended physical activities and virtual
reality gaming systems that is needed to confer health benefits. Several
considerations should be taken into account before recommended virtual reality
gaming systems as a training program for children who are critically ill. This
article highlighted guidelines, limitations and challenges that need to be
considered when designing exercise program using virtual reality gaming systems
for critically ill children. This information is helpful given the popular use
of virtual reality gaming systems in rehabilitation, particularly in children
who are critically ill.
Keywords: Exercises, video gaming, pediatric rehabilitation
