Effect of Balance Exercises with Smart Phone Based Virtual Reality Programme on Balance in Stroke Patients

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Stroke is a neurological deficit, caused due to vascular changes. Impaired postural control and balance impairments in post stroke patients, associated with high risk of fall among the stroke patients. The perturbation - based balance training mainly used in older adults and balance impairment. Virtual reality (VR) as a novel technology is rapidly becoming a popular intervention for improving balance. VR can visualize the computer - generated environments with full field of view by Head mounted displays (HMD-VR) .This study was conducted to assess and investigate the effect of balance exercises with smart phone based virtual reality programme on balance in stroke patients. METHOD: This was a randomized single-group pre and post test study design. 30 subjects met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled, assigned and received intervention. Subjects were given perturbation based balance exercise and smart phone based virtual reality along with conventional physiotherapy. Intervention protocol was for 6 days/week for 4 weeks period. RESULTS: Following 4 weeks of intervention showed improvement in postural control and balance which was assessed using BBS, TUG, VR BESS, BESTest, SIS 3.0. Paired t test was used to differentiate the mean significance. The mean pre to post intervention difference is 12.6 with P value < 0.05. TUG score improved from pre to post intervention difference is 1.443 with P value < 0.05. VR BESS score improved from pre to post intervention difference is 10.266 with P value < 0.05. The mean BESTest pre to post intervention difference is 11.467 with P value < 0.05. SIS 3.0 score improved from pre to post intervention difference is 20.33 with P value < 0.05. The result of this study showed highly significant difference in pre and post treatment. CONCLUSION: The study concludes that perturbation based balance exercises with smart phone based virtual reality programme is a useful adjunct on improving balance in stroke patients along with conventional physiotherapy.