%0 Journal Article
%T Home-based virtual reality balance training and conventional balance training in Parkinson's disease: a randomized controlled trial
%J Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
%D 2015
%A Yang, Wen-Chieh
%A Wang, Hsing-Kuo
%A Wu, Ruey-Meei
%A Lo, Chien-Shun
%A Lin, Kwan-Hwa
%V 115
%N 9
%P 734-743
%X BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Virtual reality has the advantage to provide rich sensory feedbacks for training balance function. This study tested if the home-based virtual reality balance training is more effective than the conventional home balance training in improving balance, walking, and quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). <br><br>METHODS: Twenty-three patients with idiopathic PD were recruited and underwent twelve 50-minute training sessions during the 6-week training period. The experimental group (n = 11) was trained with a custom-made virtual reality balance training system, and the control group (n = 12) was trained by a licensed physical therapist. Outcomes were measured at Week 0 (pretest), Week 6 (posttest), and Week 8 (follow-up). The primary outcome was the Berg Balance Scale. The secondary outcomes included the Dynamic Gait Index, timed Up-and-Go test, Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire, and the motor score of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. <br><br>RESULTS: The experimental and control groups were comparable at pretest. After training, both groups performed better in the Berg Balance Scale, Dynamic Gait Index, timed Up-and-Go test, and Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire at posttest and follow-up than at pretest. However, no significant differences were found between these two groups at posttest and follow-up. <br><br>CONCLUSION: This study did not find any difference between the effects of the home-based virtual reality balance training and conventional home balance training. The two training options were equally effective in improving balance, walking, and quality of life among community-dwelling patients with PD.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Scientific Communications International
%@ 0929-6646
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jfma.2015.07.012