Combined Effect of Virtual Reality Training (VRT) and Conventional Therapy on Sitting Balance in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI): Randomized Control Trial

Background: Post spinal cord injury (SCI), sitting balance is considered a prerequisite for the effective performance of activities of daily living. Virtual Reality Training (VRT) may provide an interactive medium of rehabilitation, preventing a reduction in active participation of the patients while allowing for the training of sitting balance. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of VRT to conventional therapy in improving sitting balance in persons with SCI. Subjects and Methods: This was a single blinded randomized control trial conducted on 21 subjects with SCI (level of injury: D10 or below). They were randomly allocated into two groups; both groups received their routine exercise program. In addition, the intervention group, that is, Group B (n = 11) received 30 min of VRT in the seated position using Xbox-Kinect, while the conventional therapy group, that is, Group A (n = 10) received 30 min of additional conventional therapy to equalize the duration of the intervention (3 days/week, 4 weeks). The modified functional reach test and T-shirt test were measured at the beginning and at the end of 4 weeks. Results: MFRT changes for forward (Group A: 1.7 +/- 1.09 cm; Group B: 4.83 +/- 2.95 cm), right lateral (Group A: 2.43 +/- 2.81 cm, Group B: 5.08 +/- 1.85 cm), left lateral (Group A: 3.05 +/- 4.65 cm, Group B: 6.19 +/- 1.51 cm) were statistically significant for Group B (P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed between the two groups for T-shirt test (P > 0.05). Conclusion: VRT can be used as a part of a comprehensive rehabilitation program to improve sitting balance post-SCI.