Virtual reality feedback cues for improvement of gait in patients with Parkinson's disease

Our aim was to study the effects of visual feedback cues, responding dynamically to patient's self-motion and provided through a portable see-through virtual reality apparatus, on the walking abilities of patients with Parkinson's disease.

Twenty patients participated. On-line and residual effects on walking speed and stride length were measured.

Attaching the visual feedback device to the patient with the display turned off showed a negligible effect of about 2%. With the display turned on, 56% of the patients improved either their walking speed, or their stride length, or both, by over 20%. After device removal, and waiting for 15 minutes, the patients were instructed to walk again: 68% of the patients showed over 20% improvement in either walking speed or stride length or both. One week after participating in the first test, 36% of the patients showed over 20% improvement in baseline performance with respect to the previous test. Some of the patients reported that they still walked on the tiles in their minds.

Improvements in walking abilities were measured in patients with Parkinson's disease using virtual reality visual feedback cues. Residual effects suggest the examination of this approach in a comprehensive therapy program.