Improvements in gait speed and weight shift of persons with traumatic brain injury and vestibular dysfunction using a virtual reality computer-assisted rehabilitation environment.
Many people sustaining a traumatic brain injury experience vestibular pathology requiring physical therapy for treatment. This study measured improvements in gait speed and weight shift for subjects receiving vestibular physical therapy using a Computer-Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN). A 6-session CAREN, 6-session traditional vestibular therapy group was compared with a 12-session CAREN only (0 traditional sessions) therapy group. These two groups were compared to each other and with data from healthy controls performing similar tasks on the CAREN. Those participating in 12 CAREN sessions had greater improvements in gait speed (p=0.014) and weight shift scores (p<0.001) and demonstrated similar values achieved by a healthy control population.
Warfighter Performance Department, Naval Health Research Center, 140 Sylvester Road, San Diego, CA 92106.
Pinata H
PH
Sessoms
Physical Therapy Department, Naval Medical Center San Diego, 34800 Bob Wilson Drive, San Diego, CA 92134.
Kim R
KR
Gottshall
Warfighter Performance Department, Naval Health Research Center, 140 Sylvester Road, San Diego, CA 92106.
John-David
JD
Collins
Warfighter Performance Department, Naval Health Research Center, 140 Sylvester Road, San Diego, CA 92106.
Amanda E
AE
Markham
Warfighter Performance Department, Naval Health Research Center, 140 Sylvester Road, San Diego, CA 92106.
Kathrine A
KA
Service
Warfighter Performance Department, Naval Health Research Center, 140 Sylvester Road, San Diego, CA 92106.
Seth A
SA
Reini
D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*