Clinical effectiveness of virtual reality versus conventional clinic-based vestibular physical therapy on balance and function in active duty service members. A pilot randomized controlled trial

Abstract Virtual reality (VR) may be useful during rehabilitation of service members with persistent vestibular impairment following concussion. Thirty-eight active duty US military balance resulting from concussion were randomized into three groups [Conventional Vestibular Physical Therapy (CVPT, n = 13), Reality (VRVPT, 12), and Hybrid Conventional (HybridVPT, 13)] treated twice weekly for 6 weeks. Changes in clinical measures such as Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Functional Gait Assessment (FGA), Sensory Organization Test (SOT) assessed pre-, mid-, post-treatment scores. A significant main time effect was observed demonstrating improvement over (ABC: p < .001, ? 2 .54; DHI: .57; FGA: .74; SOT: .35). Both CVPT HybridVPT demonstrated improvements patient-reported confidence function earlier the treatment course ( .005). FGA significantly incrementally improved at each assessment point all groups. The SOT early group only pre-to-post-treatment VRVPT only. did not demonstrate any instrumented measure. In comparison pre-to-post-effects effects compared to CVPT, there no clear superiority or inferiority either experimental treatments. This preliminary work shows initial efficacy using VR-based therapy concussed individuals allowing future personalize that improve adherence engagement therapy.