The effect of virtual reality technology on anti-fall ability and bone mineral density of the elderly with osteoporosis in an elderly care institution

Abstract

Objective To explore the impact of virtual reality (VR) training on anti-fall ability and bone mineral density (BMD) among elderly patients admitted to a healthcare institution. Methods People (aged 50) with osteoporosis in an elderly care institution in Anhui Province June 2020 to October 2021 were selected and randomly divided into VR group (n = 25) and control group (n = 25). In VR group, the virtual reality rehabilitation training system was used for training, while control group was treated with traditional fall prevention exercise intervention. The changes of Berg Balance Scale (BBS), timed up and go test (TUGT), functional gait assessment (FGA), bone mineral density (BMD) and falls during 12 months of training were compared between the two groups. Results BBS and FGA were positively correlated with BMD of the lumbar vertebrae and femoral neck, and TUGT was negatively correlated with BMD of the lumbar vertebrae and femoral neck. After 12 months of training, the BBS score, TUGT evaluation and FGA evaluation of the two groups were significantly improved compared with those prior to training (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD between the two groups 6 months after the intervention. The femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD of the VR group improved, and it was significantly higher than that of the control group 12 months after the intervention. Nevertheless, there was no significant difference in terms of the incidence of adverse events between the two groups. Conclusion VR training can improve anti-fall ability and increase femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD and can effectively prevent and reduce the risk of injury among elderly people with osteoporosis.

Involuntary Falls in Patients with Chronic Kidney Diseases on Nephrology Wards: Research Advances and Future Perspectives

“…76 In addition, the integration of virtual reality and augmented reality technologies in the development of training and intervention resources for fall prevention can significantly enhance patients' balance and movement control, ultimately reducing the risk of falling. [80][81][82] Moreover, in addition to prioritizing fall prevention within healthcare organizations, future research endeavors could concentrate on extending fall prevention initiatives to the community level. 83,84 Implementing measures such as public education and the establishment of community support networks can effectively enhance fall awareness and prevention among older adults residing in the community.…”

User Experience of Older People While Using Digital Health Technologies: A Systematic Review

“…( Comprising six items rated on a 5-point Likert scale, scores range from 6 ("poor satisfaction") to 30 ("excellent satisfaction"). The score is evaluated using the following classifications: poor (0-5), fair (5-10), good (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15), very good (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20), or excellent (20-25) [67].…”

“…The healthcare landscape has undergone a profound transformation with the advent of digital technologies. These advancements encompass a wide spectrum of innovations, including biosensors, wearables [1,2], digital healthcare applications such as health apps [3][4][5][6] and chatbots [7,8], remote clinical management tools [9][10][11][12][13], integrated machine learning algorithms aiding decision-making [14,15], and immersive experiences such as virtual reality [16][17][18][19] and augmented reality [20][21][22]. Moreover, electronic medical records [23,24] and visual analytics/dashboards [25][26][27][28] have become integral components of modern healthcare, forming a digital ecosystem that presents unprecedented opportunities to enhance patient care and monitoring [22].…”