Studies

Research question

Can a single, brief VR session on the ICAROS Lightning improve joint position sense in the throwing shoulder of collegiate baseball players?

Study design

Participants

9 collegiate baseball players

Training

2-min VR flight through a ring course

Design

Pre–post pilot study

Measures

Active shoulder joint position sense (internal & external rotation)

Measurements

Position error, external rotation

−75% (6.3° → 1.6°)

Position error, internal rotation

−52% (8.1° → 3.9°)

Training time

2 min (a single session)

Key findings

• Angular error dropped significantly in both rotation directions (p < 0.001).
• Very large effect sizes (Cohen’s dz = 2.70 and 2.23).
• External rotation – the direction most relevant to throwing – improved the most.

Context: Pilot study with a small sample and no control group; it examined the immediate effect of a single session.

Source

Kidwell JA, Hoang J, Greenwood N, Medina Batista D, Bolton M, Mun J, Yamamoto T, Dolezal BA. A Closed Kinetic Chain Task Utilizing an Immersive Virtual Reality-Based Platform Acutely Improves Shoulder Joint Position Sense in Collegiate Baseball Athletes. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) & Creighton University. DOI: 10.3390/app16168318

Research question

How does exergame training on the ICAROS Guardian affect cognition, mobility and leg strength – in community-dwelling older adults and in geriatric rehabilitation?

Study design

Participants

12 older adults (avg. 71 yrs) and 15 rehab patients (avg. 85 yrs)

Training

6 weeks 2×/week or 3 weeks in rehab, approx. 20–25 min each

Design

Pre–post feasibility study in two settings

Measures

MoCA, Timed Up and Go, gait speed, sit-to-stand

Measurements

Leg strength (sit-to-stand)

+41% (Rehab: 11.5 → 16.2 reps)

Timed Up and Go time

−24% (Rehab: 15.4 → 11.8 s)

Gait speed

+16% (Older adults: 1.74 → 2.01 m/s)

Points in cognitive test (MoCA)

+2 (Older adults: 25.7 → 27.7)

Key findings

• Both groups improved in every test – cognition, mobility, gait speed and leg strength.
• All improvements were statistically significant except dual-task costs in the rehab group.
• The effects appeared despite short sessions of around 20–25 minutes.

Context: Feasibility study without a control group – it lays the groundwork for a randomized follow-up trial.

Source

Massing J, Andac E, Turki A, Koutsompina-Szedlak E, Schulz R, Brixius K. Exergame-Based Training to Promote Mobility and Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Proof-of-Concept Study. German Sport University Cologne & Center for Geriatric Medicine, Cellitinnen Hospital St. Marien. DOI: 10.5960/dzsm.2026.662

Research question

What are the immediate effects of a single exergame session on the ICAROS Guardian on gait in people with Parkinson’s disease?

Study design

Participants

12 people with Parkinson’s disease

Training

30 min with 7 balance-focused exergames

Design

Baseline → 30-min rest → pre-test → training → post-test

Measures

12 gait parameters via shoe sensors (4 × 10 m walk)

Measurements

A single session

30 min (on the ICAROS Guardian)

Gait parameters significantly improved

3 (Gait speed ↑ · stance time ↓ · stride time ↓)

Key findings

• Gait speed increased significantly after training (p = 0.045).
• Stance time (p = 0.006) and stride time (p = 0.009) shortened at the same time.
• Values remained stable during the rest phase without training – pointing to a training effect rather than a learning effect.

Context: Exploratory pilot data with a small sample and small effects; larger controlled long-term studies are to follow.

Source

Maaroufi S, Zeitz F, Brixius K. Instantaneous Effects of an Exergame-Based Training Intervention Using the ICAROS Guardian on Gait in Patients With Parkinson Disease. German Sport University Cologne.

Research question

Does exergame-based core training on the ICAROS Health help with chronic back pain – and does it matter whether people train with a tablet or in fully immersive VR?

Study design

Participants

27 people with chronic back pain (15 VR, 12 tablet)

Training

5 weeks 2×/week, 30 min each (20 min core + 10 min exergaming)

Design

Pilot study, VR group vs. tablet group

Measures

Fingertip-to-floor distance, pain (NRS), well-being (WHO-5)

Measurements

Training sessions

10 (over 5 weeks)

for mobility gains

VR > Tablet (Group difference with medium effect size)

Key findings

• Only the VR group improved mobility significantly (fingertip-to-floor distance, p = 0.042).
• Mobility showed a significant group difference with a medium effect size in favour of VR.
• Fully immersive VR training was well tolerated overall.

Context: Pain and well-being did not change significantly in this low-burden group; follow-up studies are to include participants with higher pain intensity.

Source

Hexel E, Zimmermann K, Hoffmann J, Mansuroglu M, Diebschütz S, Mohr V, Brixius K. Tablet-basiertes versus vollimmersives VR-basiertes Exergaming bei unspezifischen chronischen Rückenschmerzen – Pilotstudie. German Sport University Cologne with PhysioSport Mediapark Cologne & Orthopädie Mediapark.