Effects of virtual reality programs on balance in functional ankle instability

Abstract

[Purpose] The aim of present study was to identify the impact that recent virtual reality training programs used in a variety of fields have had on the ankle’s static and dynamic senses of balance among subjects with functional ankle instability. [Subjects and Methods] This study randomly divided research subjects into two groups, a strengthening exercise group (Group I) and a balance exercise group (Group II), with each group consisting of 10 people. A virtual reality program was performed three times a week for four weeks. Exercises from the Nintendo Wii Fit Plus program were applied to each group for twenty minutes along with ten minutes of warming up and wrap-up exercises. [Results] Group II showed a significant decrease of post-intervention static and dynamic balance overall in the anterior-posterior, and mediolateral directions, compared with the pre-intervention test results. In comparison of post-intervention static and dynamic balance between Group I and Group II, a significant decrease was observed overall. [Conclusion] Virtual reality programs improved the static balance and dynamic balance of subjects with functional ankle instability. Virtual reality programs can be used more safely and efficiently if they are implemented under appropriate monitoring by a physiotherapist.

Effect of Wiihabilitation on strength ratio of ankle muscles in adults

“…Addition of the Wii balance training program to conventional exercise programs has been recommended to improve ankle muscle strength in patients with functional ankle instability at a low cost8 ) . It has also been reported that virtual reality programs improve the static balance and dynamic balance of subjects with functional ankle instability and can be used safely and efficiently by patients9 ) .…”

Information Processing Speed and Accuracy in Basketball Players With and Without Functional Ankle Instability

“…Subjects with FAI were included in the study if their ages were between 20 and 30 years, had at least 1 significant unilateral inversion sprain of either ankle that resulted in pain, swelling, and loss of function within last year, followed by more than 1 repeated injury or the perception of ankle instability or "giving way", no recent lower-limb or low back pathology, no evidence of mechanical instability as assessed by the anterior drawer and talar tilt tests, no reported history of ankle injury within the last 3 months. Subjects in the FAI group had 1 to 3 ankle sprains within the previous 12 months, and the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) score lower than 24 [24][25][26][27].…”

Design of a 3D Platform for Immersive Neurocognitive Rehabilitation

“…Among the various types of rehabilitation, neurocognitive rehabilitation seems to be the one that could benefit most from the use of virtual environments with a high level of interaction [28][29][30]. For this reason, and on the basis of our previous experiences in hand and body motor rehabilitation based on virtual environments [31][32][33][34], in this paper a tool for immersive neurocognitive rehabilitation is presented.…”