title: Participating in a virtual reality balance exercise program can reduce risk and fear of falls.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to quantify the effectiveness of virtual reality balance games (VRBG) to decrease risk and fear of falls among women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty six community dwelling women aged 56 and above were randomly divided into experimental (exercises using VRBG focus on improving balance) and control (conventional balance exercises) groups. Both groups attended a twice 6 weekly exercise session for an hour. Risk and fear of falls were measured with Physiological Profile Approach (PPA) and Activity Specific Balance Scale (ABC-6). Pre and post intervention differences between the groups were examined using two way repeated measures ANOVA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both VRBG and conventional balance exercise groups had significant decrease in PPA (p<0.001) and ABC-6 (p<0.01) after the interventions. However, no significant effects were demonstrated between the groups in PPA (p=0.18) and ABC-6 (p=0.25) post intervention. Time and group interaction effect were not significant for PPA (p=0.18) and ABC-6 (p=0.45).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Practising VRBG can increase balance confidence and decrease risk of falls among community dwelling women.
authors.affiliation: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. devinder@medic.ukm.my
authors.forename: Devinder K A
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Bala S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Rajaratnam
authors.forename: Vijayakumar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Palaniswamy
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: Vimal P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Raman
authors.forename: Pei Sien
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Bong
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003198:Computer Simulation; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D004856:Postural Balance; D012306:Risk