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Motor adaptation to real-life external environments using immersive virtual reality: A pilot study
Shivani Paralkar1, Gonzalo Varas-Diaz2, Shuaijie Wang1
1Department of Physical Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, United States.
Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies
|November 21, 2020
Summary
Virtual reality (VR) environments alter gait parameters like speed and step length in healthy individuals. VR training effectively enhances motor adaptation and can modify gait behavior for improved outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human-computer interaction
- Rehabilitation science
Background:
- Virtual reality (VR) is an emerging therapeutic tool for motor adaptation.
- Immersive VR systems offer potential for gait training and analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how virtual environment demands affect kinematic and spatio-temporal gait parameters.
- To assess gait adaptation in healthy young adults using immersive VR.
Main Methods:
- 15 healthy young adults underwent baseline natural walking (NW) and VR walking in snowy and crowded conditions.
- Gait parameters analyzed included Center-of-Mass (COM) excursion, step length, and walking speed.
- Participants also completed a mixed block combining NW and VR conditions.
Main Results:
- Virtual environment demands significantly altered COM excursion and gait speed/step length.
- Gait parameters adapted across repeated trials within VR conditions (snowy and crowded).
- Motor adaptations were retained after the mixed walking block.
Conclusions:
- Virtual environment demands significantly influence gait parameters in young adults.
- Consistent gait adaptation occurred across VR trials, demonstrating VR's impact on motor behavior.
- VR training shows potential for enhancing motor adaptation and modifying gait in healthy individuals.
