Virtual Reality Rehabilitation Helps to Improve Postural Balance in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Control Trial

Background Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) can have difficulty adapting to environmental changes and motor-tasks demands. Objective to investigate the effectiveness of non-immersive virtual reality (VR) combined with traditional physiotherapy versus traditional physiotherapy alone on static and functional balance in children with ASD, aged from 7 to 12 years. Methods Fifty-three children with ASD were randomly assigned to either the VR group, received virtual reality training combined with traditional physical therapy, or the control group, received traditional physical therapy alone. The Biodex balance system and the pediatric balance scale were used to evaluate the balance control before and after the 12-week treatment program. Results MANOVA results showed significant improvements in the pediatric balance scale scores for both the VR and control groups compared to the pre-intervention, and that the post-intervention results were significantly lower than the pre-intervention in terms of the overall sway index and all Biodex tested conditions (p < 0.05). However, post-intervention between-group comparisons showed that these significant improvements in all outcome measures were in the favor of the VR group (p < 0.05). Conclusion This study suggests that virtual reality training could be an effective adjunct to traditional physical therapy for improving postural control in children with ASD.