Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society Annual International Conference · Jul 2024

Exploring Virtual Reality-Based Training's Effects on Balance Ability and Balance Confidence in Older Adults

By Wilson O, Borris F, Thorpe B et al.

The purpose of our study was to investigate virtual reality (VR)-based and traditional balance training methods' effects on balance confidence and balance ability. Falls and imbalance are a major concern for the rapidly growing population of older adults. Thus, there is a need to seek out alternatives to traditional balance programs, particularly ones that can be translated to one's home environment. Within our study, two groups of participants (60 to 80 years old) were trained and assessed: the experimental (VR) group and the control group, 4 participants/group. Training involved balance exercises spanning 6 weeks, two training sessions/week either with or without the VR headset. Pre- and post-training assessments were conducted to gauge changes in balance ability and confidence (Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) and the Activities Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, respectively). Changes in balance confidence pre- versus post-training were not observed. However, results revealed that there were improvements (decreases in BESS errors) in balance ability in both VR and C groups.

doi.org/10.1109/embc53108.2024.10782002PubMed 40039733Interventions