Do the physical characteristics of a virtual reality device contraindicate its use for balance assessment?

CONTEXT Virtual reality environments may allow researchers to investigate functional balance performance without risks associated with testing in the real world. OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of the mass of a head-mounted display (HMD) on balance performance. DESIGN Counterbalanced pretest-posttest. SETTING Virtual reality laboratory. PARTICIPANTS 20 healthy college students. INTERVENTION(S) Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) with a tracker-only headband and again with tracker plus HMD was performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES BESS error scores, elliptical sway area, and center of pressure travel distance were recorded. RESULTS No effect of the HMD mass on balance performance was observed. A significant stance by surface interaction was present but was negated when the HMD conditions were included in the model. CONCLUSIONS The mass of a HMD has not been proven to adversely affect balance performance. These data suggest the HMD mass is not a contraindication to the use of immersive virtual environments in future concussion research involving balance.