VIRTUAL REALITY REHABILITATION VERSUS TASK-ORIENTED TRAINING FOR IMPROVING DYNAMIC BALANCE AND GAIT AMONG PARKINSON’S DISEASE PATIENTS

Abstract

Background: Gait and balance are significant complained in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) which decrease their movement capability and life quality. Two innovative therapeutic modalities reported to provide better functioning in PD are virtual reality (VR) and task-oriented training (TOT).

Objective : To determine effect of virtual reality rehabilitation versus task-oriented training for improving  dynamic balance and gait among  parkinsons disease patients

Material and methods : This was comparative  randomized controlled trial . Allied hospital Civil hospital Faisalabad  Moeen physiotherapy clinic were utilized as study setting .Diagnosed PD patients (Hoehn and Yahr stages 2–3) aged 50–70 years were included. Exclusion criteria was  patients with severe dementia or other neurological abnormalities. Sample Size was 28. Group A undergo VR-based sessions vs Group B participants were given task-oriented training Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Timed Up and Go Test   and Functional Gait Assessment (FGA)  used as assessment tools. Statistical analysis performed by SPSS  version 21.

Results : Demonstrated   BBS Score was 48.9 ± 2.9 with p score 0.03  FGA Score 23.3 ± 2.1 with p score 0.04 and 12.0 ± 1.4  TUG score with p value 0.02  among group A and group B revealed  BBS Score was 46.3 ± 3.0 FGA Score was 21.7 ± 2.4 12.9 ± 1.6 was TUG score. Group A revealed  more significant results as compared to group B.

Conclusion: Both  intervention groups revealed significant improvement after treatment but virtual reality training group showed more improvement on balance and gait among parkinsonism patients as compared to task oriented group.