Abstract
BackgroundThe Equitest system (Neurocom) is a computerized dynamic posturography device used by health care providers and clinical researchers to safely test an individual’s postural control. While the Equitest system has evaluative and rehabilitative value, it may be limited owing to its cost, lack of portability, and reliance on only sagittal plane movements. Virtual reality (VR) provides an opportunity to reduce these limitations by providing more mobile and cost-effective tools while also observing a wider array of postural characteristics.ObjectiveThis study aimed to test the plausibility of using VR as a feasible alternative to the Equitest system for conducting a sensory organization test.MethodsA convenience sample of 20 college-aged healthy individuals participated in the study. Participants completed the sensory organization test using the Equitest system as well as using a VR environment while standing atop a force plate (Bertec Inc). The Equitest system measures the equilibrium index. During VR trials, the estimated equilibrium index, 95% ellipse area, path length, and anterior-posterior detrended fluctuation analysis scaling exponent alpha were calculated from center of pressure data. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to assess the relationship between the equilibrium index and center of pressure–derived balance measures. Intraclass correlations for absolute agreement and consistency were calculated to compare the equilibrium index and estimated equilibrium index.ResultsIntraclass correlations demonstrated moderate consistency and absolute agreement (0.5 < intraclass correlation coefficient < 0.75) between the equilibrium index and estimated equilibrium index from the Equitest and VR sensory organization test (SOT), respectively, in four of six tested conditions. Additionally, weak to moderate correlations between force plate measurements and the equilibrium index were noted in several of the conditions.ConclusionsThis research demonstrated the plausibility of using VR as an alternative method to conduct the SOT. Ongoing development and testing of virtual environments are necessary before employing the technology as a replacement to current clinical tests.
Highlights
The Equitest system (Neurocom) is a computerized dynamic posturography device used by health care providers and clinical researchers to safely test an individual’s postural control
The Virtual reality (VR) device may do a good job at mimicking the visual conditions of the sensory organization test (SOT), but the foam mat might not equivocally disrupt somatosensory information compared with the SOT
This study identified a number of correlations between the Equitest system and typical balance measurements derived from center of pressure (COP) data on a force plate
Summary
The Equitest system (Neurocom) is a computerized dynamic posturography device used by health care providers and clinical researchers to safely test an individual’s postural control. Implementing the sensory organization test (SOT) using the Equitest system requires individuals to process and integrate cues from the visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive systems. This test provides clinicians and researchers with an equilibrium score for each tested condition, a sensory analysis score, a strategy analysis, and a center of gravity (COG) alignment. Virtual reality (VR) provides an opportunity to reduce these limitations by providing more mobile and cost-effective tools while observing a wider array of postural characteristics. Results: Intraclass correlations demonstrated moderate consistency and absolute agreement (0.5 < intraclass correlation coefficient < 0.75) between the equilibrium index and estimated equilibrium index from the Equitest and VR sensory organization test (SOT), respectively, in four of six tested conditions. Ongoing development and testing of virtual environments are necessary before employing the technology as a replacement to current clinical tests
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