COMPARISON OF SLIP TRAINING IN VR ENVIRONMENT AND ON MOVEABLE PLATFORM

摘要

Slip training is gaining popularity as an innovative fall intervention approach. The objective of this studywas to compare the efficacy of two different slip training modality (moveable platform and virtual reality)in reducing fall frequency and improving reactive recovery in older adults. Thirty-six healthy older adultswere involved in a laboratory study, and were equally and randomly divided into the control group, themoveable platform training (MPT) group, and the virtual reality training (VRT) group. The MPT wasachieved by inducing slips using a custom built sliding device consisting of a low friction, motorizedmoveable platform. The VRT was conducted by inducing visual perturbation in a head mounted displaywhile subjects walked on a treadmill. All groups performed slip trials (kinematics, kinetics and EMG datawere collected) on an actual slippery floor surface before and after a training session. The results indicateda significant reduction in fall frequency in both training groups. Between MPT and VRT groups, significantdifferences were also found in forward trunk rotations, peak knee angular velocity, ankle coactivity, andmuscular activity in tibialis anterior. It was concluded that slip training in VR environment could producecomparable results in fall intervention.