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A burgeoning area of innovation in sports is the use of extended realities to provide athletes with novel training environments. Evidence has demonstrated that virtual environments can be useful therapeutic tools with demonstrated positive outcomes. The purpose of this pilot investigation was to determine the effects of virtual immersive sensorimotor training intervention by quantifying 1) the training effect measured via change in performance pre-to post-intervention on the virtual reality exercises, 2) the difference in the in clinical measures of functional sensorimotor control, 3) the injury incidence rate, and 4) on-field performance during soccer competitions. Statistical analyses were used to describe differences between an experimental and a control group. Participants were recruited from the men and women's soccer teams at two universities in the United States. Participants at one university were in the experimental group (n = 78) and received virtual immersive sensorimotor training, consisting of nine novel exercises in headset virtual reality, twice each week for six weeks. Participants at the second university were in the control group (n = 52). The virtual exercises were developed with reference to the rehabilitative principles of neuroplasticity to train various neurologic processes, contributing to overall sensorimotor control. This includes vestibular, visual and oculomotor activities, cervical neuromotor control training, movement coordination, and postural/balance exercises. The results indicate significant positive training effects pre-to post-intervention in seven of the nine training exercises (p ≤ 0.005) and improvement in clinical tests of cervical neuromotor control, balance, and inspection time (p ≤ 0.009) in the experimental group compared to the control. One of the virtual training exercises was positively associated with on-field performance (p = 0.022). No differences in injury rate or overall on-field performance metrics between the experimental and control were detected. This research study provides evidence of training and positive transfer from virtual to real-world environments, supporting the use of these novel virtual exercises to improve measures of sensorimotor control in healthy soccer athletes.

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Background: People who have sustained a stroke commonly experience a decline in functional balance leading to an increased fall risk. Falls may lead to debilitating injuries, recurrent falls and a decline in functional independence. Balance impairment is one of the predominant risk factors for falls in stroke survivors. In recent research, Tai Chi has been used as a therapeutic intervention compared to conventional physical therapy methods. The purpose of this study was to summarize the current research investigating the use of Tai Chi as an intervention to improve balance and fall risk and its success in patients with a stroke. Methods: Electronic databases, PubMed and EMBASE, were searched in December of 2019 to identify studies of Tai Chi as a balance intervention for survivors of stroke. Experimental studies with ambulatory participants, diagnosed with a stroke, used Tai Chi as an intervention and utilized outcomes measures to assess balance level, number of falls or fall risk. The studies compared outcomes of patients who underwent a minimum of eight weeks of Tai Chi intervention to standard physical therapy methods. Study quality was assessed using the 10-point PEDro scale and 12-point Quality Assessment Tool for Pre-Post Studies with No Control Group. Results: Six studies were included in this review. All studies demonstrated that Tai Chi intervention was effective in improving balance when compared either to the patients’ previous ambulatory status (within group comparison) or to a group receiving standard physical therapy (between group comparison). Conclusion: Our data suggests that Tai Chi is an effective intervention for improving balance in patients who have survived a stroke. Clinically, the use of Tai Chi should be implemented in conjunction with conventional physical therapy when addressing balance deficits in patients who have survived a stroke.