Virtual Reality-based Exercise Research Articles

An affordable and immersive virtual reality-based exercise therapy in forward head posture.

Forward Head Posture (FHP) is one of the most commonly occurring musculoskeletal abnormalities. Despite exercise therapy being an effective approach for FHP treatment, it can be long, monotonous, and tedious. Virtual reality (VR) can be used as an innovative solution to address these challenges. We designed an affordable and immersive VR-based exercise therapy (VRET) system for FHP correction. The VRET contents (i.e., exercises and VR scenarios) were determined by physiotherapists and game designers at the focus group meetings. Hardware requirements include a VR box, smartphone, and sensors (i.e., a smartphone accelerometer and an affordable Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)) to measure head motions and transfer them via Wi-Fi to the VRET system. The IMU was designed using the MPU6050, Arduino Nano, and ESP8266-01S. Gwet's AC1, Game Experience Questionnaires (GEQ), and System Usability Scale (SUS) were used to measure intra-rater reliability, user experience, and system usability, respectively. The determined exercises, including Capital Flexion-Extension and Chin Tuck, were designed in the form of a shooting game. A physiotherapist and twenty-one FHP individuals took part in evaluating the system. High precision was obtained for the designed IMU (i.e., pitch and roll < 0.1° and yaw < 1.3 °). Gwet's AC1 and SUS results showed very good intra-rater reliability (coefficient = 0.892) and excellent usability (score = 87.14), respectively. According to the mean scores of the GEQ, participants were confident about competence, immersion, flow, and positive affect components. The development of low-cost VRET systems for FHP correction is a step towards facilitating rehabilitation challenges by providing positive experiences for users as well as helping them perform therapeutic exercises correctly.

Analysis of Exercise Intensity Based on Cardiorespiratory Response in a Virtual Reality-Based Exercise Program for Firefighter Physical Fitness Enhancement

OBJECTIVES Current regulations for Korean firefighters primarily emphasize exercise during working hours without specifying particular exercise methods. This study aims to evaluate the exercise intensity of the stepwise Korean Firefighter Fitness Program (KFFP) using Kinect-based mixed reality device (Virtual mate, VM), considering the demanding 24-hour shift work and high physical strength requirements. The objective is to assess its potential as one of the exercise methods and provide valuable insights.METHODS CResearchers recruited 30 participants to evaluate the exercise intensity based on the cardiopulmonary responses induced by the Stepwise Korean Firefighter Fitness Program (KFFP) using Virtual Mate (VM). Initially, the participants' resting heart rate, maximum heart rate (HR&lt;sub&gt;max&lt;/sub&gt;), and maximum oxygen consumption (VO&lt;sub&gt;2max&lt;/sub&gt;) were measured. Subsequently, researchers monitored the participants' cardiopulmonary responses by employing portable gas analyzers and wireless heart rate monitors while implementing the Stepwise KFFP with VM. Exercise intensity related to cardiopulmonary responses was recorded using both absolute parameters (VO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;, HR) and relative parameters (%VO&lt;sub&gt;2max&lt;/sub&gt;, %HRR, %HR). Researchers utilized repeated measures analysis of variance for statistical analysis.RESULTS The analysis of the stepwise KFFP using VM showed significant increases all parameters as the program advanced(&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;&lt;.001). VO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; increased from around 19.4 ml/kg/min in Step 1 to approximately 22.8 ml/ kg/min in Step 3. Similarly, %HRR rose from roughly 40.6% in Step 1 to about 53.9% in Step 3.CONCLUSIONS Upon evaluating the stepwise KFFP based on the exercise intensity levels recommended by ACSM, it is confirmed that the stepwise KFFP using VM comprises both moderate-intensity and highintensity exercises. This approach is deemed effective and can serve as a fitness management method for firefighters working in 24-hour shift patterns that demand high fitness levels.

Effect of virtual reality-based exercise and physical exercise on adolescents with overweight and obesity: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

IntroductionObesity is a complex and multifactorial disease that has affected many adolescents in recent decades. Clinical practice guidelines recommend exercise as the key treatment option for adolescents with overweight and...

Virtual reality-based exercises to improve balance and hand grip strength in patients with hemiparesis caused by an electrical burn: A randomized controlled study

There are many complications after an electrical burn injury, including neuromuscular defects, paresis or paralysis, Gillian barre syndrome, transverse myelitis, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of virtual reality-based exercises on balance and hand grip strength in post electrical burn-induced hemiparetic patients. A randomized control trial pre- and post-experimental design with intra-rater reliability and inter-rater agreement was undertaken. Thirty post-electrical burn-induced hemiparetic patients (19 males and 11 females, aged 15 to 25 years) were randomly allocated into two equal groups (group A and B). Group A (n = 15) received virtual reality-based exercise in addition to the conventional physical therapy program. Group B (n = 15) received conventional physical therapy program only. The treatment was applied 3 sessions per week for 12 consecutive weeks. Posture stability and hand grip strength were measured by the Biodex balance system and handheld dynamometer, respectively. Data was collected prior to the first treatment and at the end of the 12-week trial and all statistical calculations were done using the computer program IBM SPSS. A statistically significant increase in the overall stability index and the power of hand grip strength was observed in both groups after treatment (p &lt; 0.05), especially in group A, which received VR - based exercise training. Thus, group A showed a greater improvement in postural stability and hand grip strength than group B (p &lt; 0.05). Virtual reality-based exercises as well as conventional physical therapy program were effective in improving posture stability and hand grip strength in post electrical burn-induced hemiparetic patients.

Therapeutic effectiveness of virtual reality-based exercise through Oculus Quest 2 on balance, dizziness, nystagmus, and quality of life in patients with posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo - a randomized control trial protocol

BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) is one of the most prevalent causes of vertigo.The clinical features include nausea, imbalance, nystagmus, light-headedness, dizziness, fear of fall. Various exercises and maneuvers have been proved to be beneficial till date. Many technologies had also contributed in the physical rehabilitation. Virtual rehabilitation using virtual reality (VR) is a novel innovation in therapy. Virtual reality is widely used in treating the patients and adding to get back to their day-to-day life. Occulus quest 2 is a VR device. Depending on the patient's motions, Oculus Quest enables you to interact genuinely while immersing yourself in a virtual reality. BPPV is a very common condition and Posterior canal BPPV (PC-BPPV) is commonest of all. Most of the available literature targets conventional treatment including Exercises for repositioning and adaptation of otoconia. Comparative studies between the conventional rehabilitation protocols have also been done. There is paucity of research on virtual rehabilitation in PC-BPPV. VR utilizing Oculus Quest 2, a device designed to incorporate VR environment can be used to mobilize the patients head position there by repositioning the otoconia. Lack of evidence related to Virtual rehabilitation and specifically Oculus Quest 2 emphasises the need to study its effects on BPPV outcomes like balance, dizziness, quality of life and nystagmus. In this study, an attempt is made to use the oculus quest 2 for BPPV rehabilitation in addition to standard treatment. Patients will be divided into 2 groups control and experimental. Control group will receive Brandt-droff exercise on the other hand experimental will receive occulus quest 2 game “Coaster combat” in adjunct to the conventional. Berg balance scale, nystagmus time quality of life, dizziness handicap index and vertigo symptom scale are the outcomes. Outcomes will be assed at baseline and after 4 weeks.

Virtual reality-based exercise interventions on quality of life, some balance factors and depression in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to investigate the impact of virtual reality-based exercise on the quality of life, some balance variables, and depression among older adults aged 60 years or older. MethodWe systematically searched five electronic databases. ResultsTwenty-seven articles met our inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis revealed that exercise using virtual reality had a significant positive effect on overall quality of life (p = 0.05), mental (p = 0.001) and physical component scores (p = 0.01), social relation (p = 0.0002), psychological health(p = 0.01), physical health(p = 0.04), and environmental health (p = 0.04). Additionally, depression significantly improved following virtual reality-based exercise (p = 0.01). However, there were significant improvements in the balance berg scale (p<0.00001) and ABC scale (p<0.00001) but not in timed-up-and-go(TUG) or 8-foot-up-and-go(8-FUG). DiscussionVirtual reality-based exercise has a positive impact on various aspects of quality of life, BBS and ABC scores, and depression. More studies with larger sample sizes and less heterogeneity in design and assessments are required.

Virtual reality-based exercises' effects on pulmonary functions, cardiopulmonary capacity, functional performance, and quality of life in children with repaired congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

The long-term consequences of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), which include altered lung functions and compromised cardiopulmonary capacity, impact functional performance and quality of life. This study investigates the effects of virtual reality-based exercise programs on pulmonary functions, cardiopulmonary capacity, functional performance, and quality of life in children with repaired CDH. A randomized controlled clinical trial was performed. Fifty-two children with repaired CDH (aged 6-10 years) were enrolled and randomly allocated to virtual reality-based exercises plus traditional physical therapy (VR-EX group, n = 26) or traditional physical therapy alone (control group, n = 26). Interventions were conducted three times a week for 12 weeks. Pulmonary functions, cardiopulmonary capacity, functional performance, and quality of life were assessed before and after the intervention. The VR-EX group demonstrated significantly enhanced post-treatment pulmonary functions and cardiopulmonary capacity compared to the control group after accounting for the pre-treatment values (p < 0.05). In addition, the values in functional performance and quality of life measures showed significantly larger improvements in the VR-EX group (p < 0.05). Children with repaired CDH may benefit more from VR-based exercises when combined with traditional physical therapy than from traditional physical therapy alone regarding their pulmonary functions, cardiopulmonary capacity, functional performance, and quality of life.

Effect of a Virtual Reality-based Exercise Program on Balance and Risk of Falling in Older Women

Background and Aims This study aims to investigate the effect of a virtual reality-based exercise program on static and dynamic balance and the risk of falling in older women. Methods The study population consists of all older women in Tehran, Iran (Mean±SD age= 64.96±0.34 years, height=163.16±0.67 cm, and body mass index= 64.27±4.91 Kg/m2). Of these, 30 women were selected by a convenience sampling method based on the inclusion criteria and were randomly divided into two groups of exercise (n=15) and control (n=15). Their static and dynamic balances were assessed by Biodex balance system and their risk of falling was measured by the dynamic gait index. The women in the exercise group performed balance exercises based on virtual reality for six weeks (Three sessions per week, each for 30-45 minutes). Finally, the obtained data were analyzed by statistical tests such as t-test and analysis of covariance in SPSS software, version 21. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results Six weeks of virtual reality-based exercises had a positive and significant effect on static and dynamic balance and the risk of falling in older women (P=0.001). Conclusion The exercises based on virtual reality can improve static and dynamic balance and reduce the risk of falling in Aged women which are recommended to prevent balance disorders and its adverse outcomes in these women.

Acute Effects of Virtual Reality Exercise on Young Adults’ Blood Pressure and Feelings

Virtual reality (VR) seems to have the potential to provide opportunities to promote physical activity (PA) in a fun way. This paper aimed to examine the acute effects of three different virtual reality-based exercise bikes on young adults’ blood pressure (BP) and feelings compared to a traditional exercise cycling session. Four exercise sessions (immersive VR cycling, two non-immersive VR cycling, and traditional cycling) were completed by 36 young adults (22 females; Mage = 23.6 years). BP was measured immediately before and after each session using a BP cuff and exercise-induced feelings were assessed via an established survey immediately after each session. Participants’ previous experience with VR was used as the covariate in the ANCOVA with repeated measures. Significant main effects were observed across cycling sessions for systolic blood pressure [F (2, 29) = 3.04, p = 0.02, η2= 0.38)] and feelings [F (3, 32) = 7.74, p < 0.01, η2 = .42]. In particular, immersive VR and traditional cycling significantly increased systolic blood pressure compared to the two non-immersive VR sessions. Moreover, immersive VR significantly increased feelings compared to the two non-immersive VR sessions, whereas these two nonimmersive VR exercises had significantly greater increased feelings compared to traditional cycling, respectively. Findings suggest immersive VR-based exercise cycling may lead to higher exercise intensities compared to nonimmersive VR cycling. Further, immersive VR cycling yielded higher feelings compared to non-immersive VR and traditional cycling. Thus, immersive VR-based exercise can be a fun and physically active health promotion tool among young adults.

Effectiveness, safety and patients' perceptions of an immersive virtual reality-based exercise system for poststroke upper limb motor rehabilitation: A proof-of-concept and feasibility randomized controlled trial.

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness, safety and patients' perceptions of an immersive virtual reality (VR)-based exercise system for poststroke upper limb rehabilitation. A proof-of-concept, 2-week randomized controlled trial was conducted. Fifty stroke patients were randomly assigned to either use the immersive VR-based exercise system to perform upper limb exercises for 2 weeks (intervention) or play commercial games (control). Effectiveness, safety and patients' perceptions of the exercise system were assessed at baseline and at 1- and 2-week follow-ups. Intention-to-treat analysis revealed that after 2 weeks, statistically significant improvements in shoulder flexion active range of motion (AROM), shoulder abduction AROM, perceived upper limb motor function and quality of life (QoL) were observed in one or both groups, but not between the groups. Per-protocol analysis showed that after 2 weeks: (i) statistically significant improvement in shoulder abduction AROM was obtained in the intervention group, and the difference in the mean changes between the groups was statistically significant; (ii) statistically significant improvements in coordination/speed (Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity), shoulder flexion AROM, perceived upper limb motor function and QoL were obtained in one or both groups, but not between the groups. The immersive VR-based exercise system is a potentially effective, safe and acceptable approach for supporting poststroke motor rehabilitation. These findings can serve as a basis for larger-scale studies on the application of VR for poststroke exercises.

The effects of virtual reality-based exercise in adults receiving haemodialysis treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies.

This meta-analysis aimed to synthesize the effects of virtual reality-based exercise on physical function, depression symptoms and quality of life in adults receiving haemodialysis. Data were analysed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Version 3. The random-effects meta-analysis was performed to pool intervention effects. A total of five studies were included. The majority of included studies compared intervention with passive control group. This meta-analysis showed with a moderate to high quality of evidence that virtual reality-based exercise has positive medium effect on improving physical function such as gait speed (g = .40, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.81), sit to stand 10 times (g = -.41, 95% CI -0.825 to -0.009), sit to stand in 60 s (g = .56, 95% CI 0.151 to 0.974), 6-min walk test (g = .66, 95% CI 0.247 to 1.079), not affect time up and go and sit to stand five times. The study indicated with moderate quality of evidence that virtual reality-based exercise had no effect on depression symptoms. The study also showed with a moderate quality of evidence that the intervention had a positive medium effect on improving physical function (g = .64, 95% CI 0.20 to 1.09). In conclusion, virtual reality-based exercise can be performed to improve physical function and quality of life of adults receiving haemodialysis for health professionals.

Effects of Virtual Reality-Based Exercise on Balance in Patients With Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

The aim of the study is to quantify the effects of virtual reality-based exercise on balance after stroke. The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Web of Science databases were searched until December 31, 2021. Independent investigators abstracted data, assessed the quality of the evidence, and rated the certainty of the evidence. The intergroup differences were determined by calculating mean difference and 95% confidence interval by RevMan 5.3 software. Fourteen randomized controlled trials involving 423 stroke patients were included. Patients who received virtual reality-based exercise illustrated marked improvements in the Berg Balance Scale (mean difference, 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 0.58 to 1.86; P < 0.00001; I2 = 44%), Timed Up and Go test (mean difference, -0.81; 95% confidence interval, -1.18 to -0.44; P < 0.0001; I2 = 0%), Functional Reach Test (mean difference, 3.06; 95% confidence interval, 1.31-4.80; P = 0.0006; I2 = 0%), 10-Meters Walking Test (mean difference, -1.53; 95% confidence interval, -2.92 to -0.13; P = 0.03; I2 = 33%), and Modified Barthel Index (mean difference, 5.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.70 to 8.82; P = 0.004; I2 = 0%) compared with the control group. Existing low-evidence analyses showed that virtual reality-based exercise could effectively and safely improve balance in chronic stroke. Longer-term virtual reality-based exercise was more effective on functional ability of stroke.

Effect of virtual reality-based exercise intervention on sleep quality in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and healthy siblings: A randomized controlled trial.

Sleep is one of the important measurements of the quality of life for children especially suffering from a chronic illness such as cancer. Our aim was to determine the changes in sleep quality and to investigate the effect of virtual reality-based exercise (VRBE) approaches on sleep in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) off treatment. The participants (ALL and healthy siblings) were evaluated for sleep quality with polysomnography and "Children's Sleep Habit Questionnaire" before and after 12 weeks. The study randomized into two groups: an exercise group who received VRBE in two days in a week, 45 min of each session for 12 weeks and an control group who were managed with supportive measures. The VRBE comprised of aerobic exercise in four different games by Nintendo Wii Fit Plus®. This randomized controlled trial was carried out on 38 participants. Before intervention, ALL patients (n = 24) and healthy siblings (n = 14) had similar sleep quality in terms of polysomnography and Children's Sleep Habit Questionnaire findings. After intervention, total time asleep (p = 0.023), respiratory disturbance index of hypopnea (p = 0.005), apnea/hypopnea index (p = 0.008), and number of apnea (p = 0.028) statistically significant improved. Patients with ALL off treatment had similar values of sleep quality with healthy siblings. Novel types of exercises like VRBE have positive effects on sleep disorders in children with ALL and also healthy siblings. Future studies are needed comparing the different types of interventions.

Feasibility of a virtual reality-based exercise intervention and low-cost motion tracking method for estimation of motor proficiency in youth with autism spectrum disorder

BackgroundMotor impairment is widely acknowledged as a core feature in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which can affect adaptive behavior and increase severity of symptoms. Low-cost motion capture and virtual reality (VR) game technologies hold a great deal of promise for providing personalized approaches to motor intervention in ASD. The present study explored the feasibility, acceptability and potential efficacy of a custom-designed VR game-based intervention (GaitWayXR™) for improving gross motor skills in youth with ASD.MethodsTen children and adolescents (10–17 years) completed six, 20-min VR-based motor training sessions over 2 weeks while whole-body movement was tracked with a low-cost motion capture system. We developed a methodology for using motion tracking data to quantify whole-body movement in terms of efficiency, synchrony and symmetry. We then studied the relationships of the above quantities with standardized measures of motor skill and cognitive flexibility.ResultsOur results supported our presumption that the VR intervention is safe, with no adverse events and very few minor to moderate side-effects, while a large proportion of parents said they would use the VR game at home, the most prohibitive reasons for adopting the system for home therapy were cost and space. Although there was little evidence of any benefits of the GaitWayXR™ intervention in improving gross motor skills, we showed several positive correlations between the standardized measures of gross motor skills in ASD and our measures of efficiency, symmetry and synchrony from low-cost motion capture.ConclusionsThese findings, though preliminary and limited by small sample size, suggest that low-cost motion capture of children with ASD is feasible with movement exercises in a VR-based game environment. Based on these preliminary findings, we recommend conducting larger-scale studies with methods for improving adherence to VR gaming interventions over longer periods.

Acute response of prefrontal cortex in institutionalized older adults undergoing a single exergames session.

Virtual reality-based exercise (exergames) improves cognition of the elderly but the neurophysiological effects are poorly understood. The hypothesis herein established is that an ultrafast neurophysiological adaptation occurs in prefrontal cortex of elderly after completion of a single exergames session. To reinforce the aforementioned hypothesis, individuals living in a Long-Term Care Home (LTCH) participated in the study and were randomly allocated into two groups (Virtual Reality Group, VRG, n = 5; and Active Control Group, ACG n = 5). VRG performed six exercises with exergames and ACG performed exercises with the same VRG movements but with no virtual reality. Assessment of frontal cortical activity at rest and during cognitive testing via electroencephalographic activity (EEG) was performed before and immediately after the intervention. Significant decrease in relative power of EEG (RPEEG) Beta brainwave (−29 ± 18%) in the left prefrontal cortex of VRG compared to ACG (4 ± 9%) (p = 0.007). A slight improvement on semantic fluency in VRG (ES=0.21) was noted. An ultrafast prefrontal cortical adaptation may occur as an effect of a single exergames session, causing a small improvement on cognition of institutionalized elderly.

Effectiveness of virtual reality-based exercise therapy in rehabilitation: A scoping review

Abstract Background When it comes to rehabilitation following many injuries and disabilities, exercise therapy is a long, arduous, and tedious process. Therefore, there is a need to employ new methods to increase the frequency, duration, and intensity of the exercises, and to boost motivation and satisfaction of the patients in a way that they can better perform the exercises. In this regard, virtual reality (VR) is an emerging technology that can be an effective tool in mitigating therapeutic challenges. Objectives The main objective of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness of VR-based exercise therapy to highlight areas for future studies in rehabilitation. Methods The scoping review methodology was used to comprehensively search for and identify related papers in MEDLINE (PubMed), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, EMBASE, IEEE, and Web of Science, while grey literature was also searched. Studies that used VR for exercise therapy were included in the current review. Quality assessment was performed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database. The consensus was reached following two reviewers’ independent inclusion screening, data extraction, and appraisal. Results Among 2887 identified studies, 26 papers were eligible to be included in this review. The results showed the positive effects of VR-based exercise therapy in a variety of conditions or disorders. With regard to treatment objectives, VR-based exercise therapy has been more commonly considered for the improvement of pain (41%), functional ability (31%), and muscular strength (24%). According to the findings, compared to other VR devices, Nintendo Wii and Kinect are 41% and 24% more common, respectively. Conclusions This review provides evidence for the potential effectiveness of virtual reality-based exercise therapy for the improvement of rehabilitation outcomes. However, further higher-quality research is needed to confirm the observed positive effects.

Examining College Students’ Motivation Participating In Virtual Reality-based Exercise: A Self-determination Theory Perspective

Virtual reality (VR) has become a popular modality for exercise, physical therapy, and rehabilitation. VR-based exercise is becoming more available and could be a viable form of exercise. In addition, the self-determination theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan, 1985) has been used to examine college student’s motivation to exercise. However, more empirical research evidence is needed to examine college students’ motivation to participate in VR-based exercise from the SDT perspective. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between college student’s situational motivation and intention to participate in VR-based exercise. METHODS: Seventy-two college students (Male = 39; Mage = 20.72, SD = 1.66) experienced at least 5 minutes of VR-based stationary bike gaming using the VirZoom Arcade. Afterward, they were assessed on situational motivation and intention to participate in VR-based exercise via a validated survey. The Situational Motivation Scale (Guay, Vallerand, & Blanchard, 2000) was used to assess situational motivation and one question was used to assess their intention for future participation in VR-based exercise. In order to determine the relationship between situational motivation (i.e., intrinsic, identified, external, amotivation) and intention to exercise, a multiple linear regression was performed to investigate motivation to predict intention to exercise. RESULTS: The multiple regression model showed a statistically significant effect, F(2, 69) = 12.920, p < .001, R2 = .272, indicating that 27.2% of the variation in intention can be explained by identified regulation (β = .43) and amotivation (β = -.23). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the intention for further participation in VR-based exercise is strongly predicted by the identified regulation or importance college students place on VR-based exercise. As with other modalities of exercise, lack of motivation and interests can be a deterring factor for participation in VR-based exercise. Further research is needed to understand how to empower college students who are amotivated to participate in VR-based exercise. Finally, these results confirm the theoretical tenets of the SDT.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality-based exercise system for vestibular rehabilitation

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of virtual reality technology assisted vestibular rehabilitation training（VRT） in treating chronic vestibular dysfunction patients. Method:Ninety-eight vestibular dysfunction patients were assigned into the experimental group（n=73） and the control group（n=25） using mechanical sampling. The experimental group received immersive virtual reality assisted VRT treatment, while the control group received conventional VRT treatment. Chinese vertigo symptom scale（VSS-C） was used to measure vertigo symptoms before treatment and 12 weeks post-treatment. Balance feedback instrument was used to measure the center of pressure（COP）, maximum oscillation length（MOL） and COP envelope area（EA） which smaller numbers indicating better balance functions. Analysis of variance and Fisher's exact test were performed using SPSS 20.0 software to compare mean values and frequencies, respectively. Result:①Before treatment as baseline, there were no statistically significant differences in the total score of VSS-C scale, balance correlation and anxiety correlation score between the two groups. Total score and balance related score of experimental group were significantly different between before and after treatment（P<0.01）, while no statistically significant difference in anxiety related scores. After treatment, there were statistically significant differences in total VSS-C score（P<0.01） and balance correlation score（P<0.05） between the two groups, while no statistically significant difference in anxiety correlation score. ②After 12 weeks of treatment, there were statistically significant differences between MOL and EA in open-eye state（P<0.01）, but no statistically significant difference in close-eye state between two groups. Conclusion:The introduction of VR technology by VRT can provide interesting interactions for patients in training and encourage patients to actively participate in various repetitive rehabilitation exercises that are boring, achieving good effect. The effect of VR on subjective balance rehabilitation without visual impairment is better than that of conventional.

The Effect of Virtual Reality-Based Exercise Program on Balance, Gait, and Falls Efficacy in Patients with Parkinson&amp;rsquo;s Disease

The Effect of Virtual Reality-Based Exercise Program on Balance, Gait, and Falls Efficacy in Patients with Parkinson&amp;rsquo;s Disease

Video game-based and conventional therapies in patients of neurological deficits: an experimental study

Purpose In the past few years, medicine has upgraded its therapeutic techniques and practices, with the use of various modern methods that are due to advancement in technology and sciences. It is recognized that the physical health of the patients is significantly associated to their mental state, their motivation and engagement in overcoming the illness. This paper presents experimental comparison between virtual reality (VR) technology and conventional mode of therapy for physical rehabilitation among patients of neurological deficits. The objective was to explore the effectiveness of VR during physical interactions with different game-like virtual environment and potentially leading to increased mental health (i.e., lower depression, anxiety and stress), self-esteem, social support and intrinsic motivation (task-based competence, choice and interest). Method The study sample consisted of thirty-four subjects with Cerebral palsy (CP), Traumatic brain injury (TBI), Spinal cord injury, Stroke and Parkinson’s disease; divided into two experimental groups virtual reality exercise group (n = 17), and conventional therapy group (n = 17); who have upper- or lower-limb impairment. Results The outcome measures revealed significant differences across pretest and post-test conditions of both the experimental groups. Findings emerged from the study showed noticeable effectiveness of virtual-reality based rehabilitation in TBI, stroke and CP patients. Relationships between study variables and demographic variables (age and gender) were also presented. Conclusion This study opens the way for future researchers, psychologists, physiotherapist and other practitioners to do more extensive work in the domain of virtual reality with different sample, constructs and approaches. Implications for rehabilitation It has become increasing important to introduce new state-to-art technologies in domain of rehabilitation. People are reluctant to use all the traditional modes of treatment. As these conventional ways of treatment are least motivating and interesting to indulge the patients without force and burden. It is evident in the present study that addition of virtual reality-based exercise increases the self-motivated balance during functional task in contrast to conventional and task-dependent training participants. This study opens the way for future researchers to do more extensive work in this domain.