Virtual Reality – Based Training to Improve Postural Stability and Functional Balance in Healthy Elderly Women – a pilot study

Principal Investigator(s):  View help for Principal Investigator(s) Anna Brachman, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland

Version:  View help for Version V1

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Project Citation: 

Brachman, Anna. Virtual Reality – Based Training to Improve Postural Stability and Functional Balance in Healthy Elderly Women – a pilot study. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2020-02-21. https://doi.org/10.3886/E117863V1

Project Description

Summary:  View help for Summary Objective: to observe through objective testing using assessment module incorporated in new virtual reality (VR) system whether elderly people’s static and functional balance is improved by VR balance training program that is based on movements performed in everyday life. Materials and Methods: Thirteen healthy elderly women participated in 12 sessions of balance-based VR training (three times a week, 30 minutes per session). The system used combined a posturographic platform with a 3D measurement system based on time-of-flight cameras (Kinect). All objective outcomes: the quiet standing test, Functional Balance Test (FBT) and limit of stability (LOS) test were measured on 3 occasions: before intervention, after 6 training sessions and after the completion of the 4-week program. Results: Results showed significant improvement in LOS performance after intervention. In FBT participants exhibited significant decrease (p<.01; Kendall’s W= 0.5) in the average time to target hit after 6 trainings. The average center of pressure velocity increased after 6 and 12 sessions, however did not reach significance (p= .053), nevertheless the effect size was large (η2 = 0.22). Movement optimization in FBT and parameters of quiet standing test were not significantly affected by training. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that even relatively short 4-week training period can bring positive outcomes. 12 training sessions of balance VR training using the force platform and Kinect sensor resulted in significant improvement of postural stability in healthy elderly women. This trial supports the potential therapeutic use of VR training program which is based on movements performed in everyday life.
Funding Sources:  View help for Funding Sources National Center for Research and Development (STRATEGMED3/ 306011/1/NCBR/2017)



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