The Effect of Adding Virtual Reality Training on Traditional Exercise Program on Balance and Gait in Unilateral, Traumatic Lower Limb Amputee

Abstract

Objective: Lower limb amputation is common in war combat and armed conflict as well as in traumatic settings and presents a challenge for health care providers. The incorporation of advanced technologies, particularly virtual reality, presents an opportunity to address the main consequences of amputation, principally balance and gait. The aim of this study was to investigate the additional effect of virtual reality with a traditional rehabilitation exercise program on balance and gait in unilateral, traumatic lower limb amputees. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two traumatic lower limb amputees, fulfilling a postfitting rehabilitation program at least 6 months ago, were recruited and randomly assigned into two identically sized groups; group C (control group) experiencing the traditional exercise program and group VR (virtual reality group) experiencing an addition of a virtual reality training. The intervention was conducted over 6 weeks at a rate of three sessions per week. Outcome measures assessed before and after 6 weeks were the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), and 6-minute walk test (6 MWT). Results: Both interventions induced improvement in all measured parameters (P < 0.05); however, virtual reality demonstrated significant superior effects only on the balance markers, TUG test, DGI, and BBS (P < 0.05), but not on the 6 MWT (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Virtual reality is a promising, amusing, and safe intervention for addressing balance and gait in unilateral, traumatic lower limb amputees.

Virtual Reality in Health Care: Bibliometric Analysis

“…This group of keywords containing 11 items addresses the flexibility of VR in addition to conventional rehabilitation programs [ 49 , 50 ], and the possibility of expanding the reach of treatments beyond clinically controlled settings to achieve better results [ 22 ]. In addition, this cluster includes the adaption of VR games detached from any clinical setting and found the VR games had a positive effect on patient rehabilitation comparable to trainings conducted by medical professionals [ 51 , 52 ].…”

Use of a Single Wearable Sensor to Evaluate the Effects of Gait and Pelvis Asymmetries on the Components of the Timed Up and Go Test, in Persons with Unilateral Lower Limb Amputation

“…For example, considering that amputees have no neurological injury, using the appropriate accommodations, the use of a tool such as a balance board can be important to stimulate the proprioceptive afferences and produce learning of new postural skills, as was demonstrated for healthy individuals [ 43 , 44 ]. Moreover, recent studies have demonstrated that the use of new tools, such as motor imagery [ 19 , 45 ] and virtual reality [ 46 ], can provide an important support in training and monitoring the development and updating of internal models, in subjects with a lower limb amputation.…”

Clinical Effect of Virtual Reality Technology on Rehabilitation Training of Sports Injury

“…Hwang et al discussed the effects of virtual reality-based upper limb rehabilitation training on upper limb function, muscle activity, daily living activities, and quality of life of stroke patients [ 7 ]. Abbas et al discussed the effect of graded motor rehabilitation and cognitive function training supported by virtual reality (VR) technology on the efficacy of patients with CHF complicated with cognitive impairment [ 9 ]. Soufi Ahmadi et al discussed the application of virtual reality technology in balance function rehabilitation training teaching, providing references and suggestions for using virtual reality technology in balance function rehabilitation training teaching [ 10 ].…”