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D.H. Chun Kim1, J. Maria Ribeiro Bacha1, G. Augusto Faria Pereira2, I.B. Araujo Novais Silva1, C. Torriani-Pasin3, R. de Deus Lopes2, J.E. Pompeu1
1University of Sao Paulo, Department of Physical Therapy, Speech and Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2University of Sao Paulo, Department of Electronic Systems Engineering - Engineering School, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 3University of Sao Paulo, Laboratory of Motor Behavior, Physical Education and Sport School, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Background: Falls in the elderly induce serious consequences such as fractures, pain, fear of falling, worsening mobility and greater risk to experience another fall. Recent studies show that the Immersive Virtual Reality System (IVRS) can be as effective as conventional physical therapy in reducing the risk and incidence of falls in the elderly. However, the commercial IVRS used as an intervention do not allow the adjustment of tasks, control of progression and intensity, do not offer a system of recording clinical information and sometimes, the cognitive and motor demand of games is superior to the performance capacity of the elderly.
Purpose: To evaluate the applicability, safety, tolerability and acceptability of a specific IVRS for training postural control in elderly fallers. In addition, compare the performance of elderly fallers with elderly non-fallers.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, which included 20 elderly people with a history of at least one fall in the last year and 20 elderly people with no history of a fall in the last year. Before beginning the immersion in the system, the participants answered a questionnaire about vestibular symptoms and familiarity with technology. Then, the participants tested the system for 10 minutes. After exposure to the system, applicability and tolerability were assessed by the number of participants who completed the task in the system and its performance through the final score. Safety was assessed by completing the immersion in the system. Acceptability was assessed using the satisfaction questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney Test and the Chi-Square Test.
Results: All participants completed the immersion in the system. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups regarding applicability, safety. tolerability and acceptability.
Conclusion(s): The IVRS is applicable, safe, tolerable and acceptable for all participants including elderly fallers.
Implications: In this age of technological evolution the IVRS for cognitive - sensory - motor training will be an instrument that brings great advantages for improving postural control and preventing falls for elderly fallers and future clinics practice.
Funding, acknowledgements: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) for financial support (process number 2019/07986-5).
Keywords: Aged., Fall., Virtual Reality
Topic: Older people
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
Committee: Ethics Committee of the Medical School
Ethics number: 03310818.0.0000.0065
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
