Treadmill training with Virtual Reality to decrease risk of falls in idiopathic fallers: A pilot Study

Falls in the elderly are a major health problem affecting a third of the elderly over the age of 65. Numerous fall prevention interventions have been suggested but to date, the content of the optimal exercise program as well as its optimal duration and intensity have not yet been established. The Aim of this pilot study was to investigate whether Virtual Reality can be applied to address the multifaceted deficits associated with fall risk in the elderly. Five elderly women (67.1 ± 6.5 years) with a history of falls received 18 sessions (3 per week x 6 weeks) of progressive intensive treadmill training with virtual obstacles (TT + VR) consisting of obstacle navigation. Post-training, gait speed significantly improved during usual walking, dual tasking and while negotiating over-ground obstacles. Dual task cost and over-ground obstacle clearance also improved. TT + VR may be feasible for gait training of elderly fallers and may improve physical performance, gait during complex challenging conditions. Effects of training on fall frequency are still to be determined.