Semi-immersive virtual reality protocol assessing gait and balance in remote concussion

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Human Movement Science

Background:

• Concussion can lead to persistent postural control deficits.
• Standard assessments may not identify subtle, lingering impairments.
• Dual-tasking challenges are sensitive indicators of neurological function.

Purpose of the Study:

• Evaluate a novel semi-immersive virtual reality (VR) dual-task protocol.
• Identify lingering postural control deficits in individuals with remote concussion history.
• Examine the effect of dual-tasking (centered and peripheral vision Stroop tasks) on postural sway during standing and walking.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a VR system integrating motion capture and force plate technology for ecological realism.
• Administered divided attention tasks (centered and peripheral visual stimuli) during standing and walking.
• Compared task performance between healthy controls and individuals with a history of concussion using statistical analyses (t-tests, MANOVA).

Main Results:

• Concussed participants showed significant gait and postural stability impairments.
• Individuals with concussion exhibited larger sway areas and slower sway dynamics during standing.
• Concussed individuals demonstrated significantly larger sway areas during both centered and peripheral Stroop balance tasks.

Conclusions:

• Semi-immersive VR dual-task assessments, especially with peripheral visual demands, can detect subtle post-concussion deficits.
• VR-based assistive technology can inform personalized interventions for improved long-term outcomes.
• Ecologically realistic, real-world assessments enhance the effectiveness of rehabilitation.