Virtual reality enhanced balance training for service members with amputations

摘要

Virtual applications developed for balance training in the Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN) require subjects to perform dynamic weight shifts. This retrospective case study examines the use of the CAREN as an adjunct to conventional therapy for three service members with upper and/or lower extremity amputations. All three patients showed improved performance over several weeks of CAREN training, and the combined data can be characterized with a power curve fit (y = 291.91x−0.165; R2 = 0.836). These results support the need for more extensive studies on the effectiveness of CAREN balance training for those with amputations.