Dr Aliah Shaheen
Reader in Biomechanics

Virtually fall free: Delivering virtual reality-based action simulation training to improve balance and reduce fall risk in children with developmental coordination disorder
Funder: The Waterloo Foundation
Duration: May 2025 - September 2026

Children with DCD often have difficulty balancing and are more likely to trip or fall during everyday activities such as walking and running. AOMI training, a mental practice technique that involves a person watching a video demonstration of a movement whilst simultaneously imagining the physical feelings associated with the movement, has the potential to help these children improve their balance. Our research shows that AOMI training improves performance and learning of upper-limb tasks in children with DCD, and whole-body tasks in healthy adults. Recently, we showed that delivering AOMI training in VR (VR-AOMI training) enhances these benefits. This approach is promising in children with DCD as it is low-cost and combines enjoyable elements of VR gaming with targeted training methods to improve movement competence. However, the effectiveness of VR-AOMI training has not yet been tested in DCD populations. This project aims to address this gap by determining how children with DCD respond to VR-AOMI training designed to improve their balance. This will provide a scientific basis for the development of at-home balance training that could be recommended to improve balance and reduce fall risk for children with DCD.