Agnese Peruzzi, Ignazio Roberto Zarbo, Andrea Cereatti, Ugo Della Croce, Anat Mirelman
Overview
A virtual reality-based gait training was examined in this single blind randomized controlled trial.
Methods:
Twenty-five individuals with mild to moderate disability with multiple sclerosis were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 14) or the control group (n = 11). Participants in the control group exercised on a treadmill. Participantss in the experimental group received VR-based treadmill exercise. A gait analysis and clinical measurements were performed.
Result:
The participants in both groups significantly improved their walking endurance and speed, cadence and stride length, and lower limb joint ranges of motion and powers during single and dual task gait. As indicated by the clinical motor tests, subjects in the experimental group also improved their balance (p 0.05). The experimental group improved significantly more than the control group in hip range of motion and hip-generated power at terminal stance at post-training compared to the control group.
Conclusion:
These findings support the perceived benefits of training programs that incorporate virtual reality to improve gait measures in people with multiple sclerosis.
Implication of rehabilitation:
Multiple sclerosis is associated with gait deficits (85%), which worsen when performing dual tasks.
Multiple sclerosis patients with dual task gait can benefit from intensive and progressive treadmill training, with and without virtual reality.
Virtual reality treadmill training requiring obstacle negotiation increases range of motion and power generated at the hip, resulting in a longer stride and, subsequently, an increased gait speed.
The V-TIME academic research project that has led to many of these papers is implemented commercially by GaitBetter.