Affiliations: [a] Physical Therapy Department, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel | [b] Occupational Therapy Department, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel | [c] Timocco Ltd, Tel Aviv, Israel | [d] Physical Therapy Department, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: M. Elboim Gabyzon, Physical Therapy Department, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel. E-mail:michal.elboim@gmail.com
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Virtual reality gaming environments may be used as a
supplement to the motor performance assessment tool box by providing
clinicians with quantitative information regarding motor performance in
terms of movement accuracy and speed, as well as sensory motor integration
under different levels of dual tasking. OBJECTIVE: To examine the feasibility of using the virtual reality
game `Timocco' as an assessment tool for evaluating goal-directed hand
movements among typically developing children. METHODS: In this pilot study, 47 typically-developing children were
divided into two age groups, 4-6 years old and 6-8 years old. Performance
was measured using two different virtual environment games (Bubble Bath and
Falling Fruit), each with two levels of difficulty. Discriminative validity
(age effect) was examined by comparing the performance of the two groups,
and by comparing the performance between levels of the games for each group
(level effect). Test-retest reliability was examined by reassessing the
older children 3-7 days after the first session. RESULTS: The older children performed significantly better in terms
of response time, action time, game duration, and efficiency in both games
compared to the younger children. Both age groups demonstrated poorer
performance at the higher game level in the Bubble Bath game compared to the
lower level. A similar level effect was found in the Falling Fruit game for
both age groups in response time and efficiency, but not in action time. The
performance of the older children was not significantly different between
the two sessions at both game levels. CONCLUSIONS: The discriminative validity and test-retest
reliability indicate the feasibility of using the Timocco virtual reality
game as a tool for assessing goal-directed hand movements in children.
Further studies should examine its feasibility for use in children with
disabilities.
Keywords: Virtual reality, goal-directed hand movement, children, assessment, Timocco, feasibility
