Virtual reality training improves balance function

Neural Regen Res. 2014 Sep 1;9(17):1628-34. doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.141795.

Abstract

Virtual reality is a new technology that simulates a three-dimensional virtual world on a computer and enables the generation of visual, audio, and haptic feedback for the full immersion of users. Users can interact with and observe objects in three-dimensional visual space without limitation. At present, virtual reality training has been widely used in rehabilitation therapy for balance dysfunction. This paper summarizes related articles and other articles suggesting that virtual reality training can improve balance dysfunction in patients after neurological diseases. When patients perform virtual reality training, the prefrontal, parietal cortical areas and other motor cortical networks are activated. These activations may be involved in the reconstruction of neurons in the cerebral cortex. Growing evidence from clinical studies reveals that virtual reality training improves the neurological function of patients with spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy and other neurological impairments. These findings suggest that virtual reality training can activate the cerebral cortex and improve the spatial orientation capacity of patients, thus facilitating the cortex to control balance and increase motion function.

Keywords: NSFC grant; balance; balance dysfunction; brain injury; mechanism; nerve regeneration; neural plasticity; neural regeneration; proprioception; rehabilitation; reviews; sensorimotor function; somatosensory; spinal cord injury; stroke; vestibule; virtual reality; vision.