The Effect Of Virtual Reality Training On The Fall-related Risk Factors Of The Elderly People In Old-age Care Institutions

Objective:To investigate the effect of virtual reality(VR)training on the fall-related risk factors of the elderly people in old-age care institutions.Methods:Sixty-two elderly people in Nanjing Jiangning Muchunyuan Nursing Home were divided into control group(31 cases)and VR group(31 cases)using a random number table.The control group received routine fall prevention training,while the VR group received virtual reality training.Both groups were given 12 weeks of training,50 minutes per times and 3 times per week.The balance function assessment system,the timed up and go test(TUGT),the 30-second chair stand test(30CST),the Tinetti Gait Assessment(TGA)and the modified falls efficacy scale(MFES)were used to assess the static balance function(including four related indexes of the center of press X-axis excursion?the center of press Y-axis excursion?the coverage of 90% ellipse area and the length in function of surface index at eyes opened and closed state)?the dynamic balance function?the strength of lower limbs?the gait function and the modified falls efficacy before and after the training.The frequency of falls in the next one year was recorded.Results:Sixty elderly people in the nursing home(30 cases in the VR group,30 cases in the control group)successfully completed the study.Before the training,there was no significant difference in baseline data between both groups(P>0.05).All of the parameters and assessments after 12 weeks of the training in both groups were significantly more improved than those before the training(P<0.05),and after the training,the static balance function parameters?TUGT?30CST?TGA and MFES results in the VR group were significantly better than those in the control group(P<0.05).All of the frequency of falls after the training in both groups were significantly less than those before the training(P<0.05),and the frequency of falls was less in the VR group than in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusions:Virtual reality training can effectively improve the fall-related risk factors including the static and dynamic balance function?the strength of lower limbs?the gait function?and the modified falls efficacy of the elderly people in old-age care institutions,reduce their frequency of falls,and the effect of it was better than the routine fall prevention training.It has some implication to further explore the working methods of the“combination between rehabilitation and elderly care”in old-age care institutions.