Effects of Immersive Virtual Reality on Balance in People With Parkinson's Disease: A Case Series

Five people with Parkinson's disease (PD) participated in an immersive virtual reality (IVR) program focused on improving their ability to balance. Over a four-week period, they participated in eight IVR sessions, two per week. Standing balance, functional mobility, gait speed, lower limb strength, incidence of adverse events, quality of life and participant-reported satisfaction were assessed. By comparing pre- and post-intervention outcomes with recognized thresholds of minimal detectable change, improvements in balance, functional mobility, and quality of life were observed. The results of this small case series of five participants suggest that an IVR program intervention seems to have an effect for improving balance, functional mobility, and quality of life in people with PD, warranting further investigation in larger controlled trials.