Virtual reality interventions for physical activity and stress reduction in neurodevelopmental disorder family contexts: A scoping review (2015-2025).
Fifteen-minute VR nature breaks for caregivers and VR bike games for kids are doable add-ons, but the science is still a two-study puddle.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The authors hunted every paper from 2015-2025 that used VR to boost exercise or cut stress in families touched by neurodevelopmental disorders.
They found only two studies worth keeping: one gave caregivers a 15-minute VR nature break, the other let kids pedal a VR bike game.
Both studies checked if people could finish the sessions, not if lives changed long-term.
What they found
VR nature scenes were doable; caregivers wore headsets, felt calm, and no one dropped out.
VR bike games were also doable; kids with developmental disabilities hit moderate heart-rate zones and kept coming back.
Bottom line: the ideas work in the room, but the proof is thinner than a headset strap.
How this fits with other research
Park et al. (2023) ran a real RCT and saw the same bike game lift locomotor skills, yet ball skills stayed flat. Their stricter design backs up the "feasible" claim, but adds "don’t expect every motor area to grow."
Liang et al. (2026) counted minutes and showed kids with NDDs already lag 13 minutes per day in active play. The VR review answers that gap with a fun option, not more nagging.
Cameron et al. (1996) first dreamed of VR for learning disabilities thirty years ago. Kubota et al. (2026) update the dream with actual heart-rate data and caregiver stress numbers, moving from promise to early pilot.
Why it matters
You can borrow the two tested ideas tomorrow: hand a stressed parent a headset loaded with a forest scene while you run session notes, or swap one table-top activity for a supervised VR bike race that keeps heart rates in the moderate zone. Evidence is tiny, so track your own data—minutes active, parent stress ratings, session attendance. If it flops, you lose ten minutes; if it helps, you just gave a family a new coping tool.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and their families face barriers to physical activity and often accumulate excessive sedentary time. Virtual reality (VR) offers a promising modality to promote active engagement. OBJECTIVE: This scoping review mapped studies using immersive VR nature simulations for stress reduction in NDD family contexts (Tier 1) and recreation-focused VR supporting physical activity (Tier 2). METHODS: Guided by the JBI Manual and PRISMA-ScR, we searched PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and APA PsycInfo (2015-2025). Searches were executed Oct 30-Nov 1, 2025. Strategies combined VR with nature/outdoor, pediatric/caregiver, and NDD terms. Two reviewers screened and charted data. RESULTS: Of 101 records identified, 32 duplicates were removed and 69 records were screened; 2 studies met inclusion criteria. A caregiver pilot (Tier 1) using a single 15-minute VR nature session showed immediate mood improvements and reduced perceived stress at days 3 and 7, with no serious adverse events. A school-based feasibility study (Tier 2) demonstrated that supervised VR exergaming can achieve moderate-intensity exercise. CONCLUSIONS: VR-enabled interventions appear feasible for caregiver stress reduction and promoting physical activity in children with disabilities. Evidence remains limited; comparative trials examining VR's role in active lifestyle promotion are needed. IMPLICATIONS: Practitioners can integrate VR into structured service delivery. Research should examine dose-response relationships, physiological endpoints, and equity-oriented implementation to advance lifestyle interventions for NDD populations.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2026 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2026.105275