Augmented Reality for Balance Rehabilitation in Older Persons: A Scoping Review.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Rehabilitation Science
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Falls are a major cause of injury and loss of independence in older adults.
• Impaired balance is a modifiable risk factor for falls, but traditional rehabilitation may not fully address it.
• Augmented reality (AR) offers an interactive approach to enhance balance training and fall prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize the characteristics of AR interventions for balance rehabilitation in older adults.
• To identify outcome measures used in AR-based balance training studies.
• To assess the effectiveness of AR for improving balance and reducing fall risk in the elderly.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted using literature searches across multiple databases (CENTRAL, CINAHL, EMBASE, Medline, PubMed, ScienceDirect, SCOPUS, Web of Science) up to July 2024.
• Studies included older adults (65+), AR-based balance rehabilitation, and RCTs or observational designs, focusing on balance, balance confidence, or fear of falling outcomes.
• Data were screened and extracted by two independent reviewers following Arksey and O'Malley's framework.

Main Results:

• Ten studies (six RCTs, four observational) with 235 participants (mean age ~70 yrs) met the inclusion criteria.
• AR interventions were delivered 1-5 times/week for 4-12 weeks, showing high adherence (83.3%-100%).
• Significant improvements in gait stability and anticipatory postural adjustments were observed with AR interventions; RCTs demonstrated statistically significant balance improvements.

Conclusions:

• Augmented reality (AR) serves as a valuable complementary tool for fall prevention strategies in older adults.
• AR facilitates tailored interventions that address specific balance deficits.
• Clinicians can utilize AR to enhance engagement and deliver targeted, functional rehabilitation for older adults at risk of falls.