Effect of Sensory and Movement Feedback Virtual Reality Technology on the Coordination and Balance of Eldery Man

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a functional training program on static and dynamic balance of elderly male able-bodied subjects.

Thirty elderly male subjects (age: 70/36±3 y, weight: 70/60±2/43 kg, height: 1/78±2/28 m) participated in this study where they randomly divided in two control and experimental groups. The pre-test of Sharpened-Romberg (static balance with eyes open and close) and Timed-get up and go (dynamic balance) balance tests applied a day before starting functional training program. Experimental group participated in functional training program three days a week for eight weeks. Control group asked to continue their daily activity. The post-test applied afterward. Descriptive statistics, T-test for independent samples and paired sample T-test (A ≤ 0.05) applied for statistical analysis.

No significant differences seen in all three balance tests between two groups, but experimental group had better performance than control group in post-test. Paired sample T-test showed significant differences between pre and post-tests in all three tests for experimental group while no differences observed in control group.

The results of this study confirmed the role of virtual reality technology training on the static and dynamic balance of elderly men. Due to the lack of improvement in the balance of the control group subjects, it can be concluded that the improvement of the balance of the experimental group is attributed to the effect of the