Title : Balance control mechanisms in individuals with multiple sclerosis in virtual reality environment
Abstract:
Multiple sclerosis (MS), a debilitating inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, afflicts approximately 2.5 million people worldwide. Manifesting through a variety of symptoms including gait and balance impairments, the progression of MS notably exacerbates balance difficulties, heightening the risk of falls and generating a subsequent fear of falling. As such, balance control has emerged as a critical target for gait rehabilitation within the MS population.
Numerous intervention programs have devised methods to enhance balance control, with exercise programs demonstrating promising improvements. Recently, virtual reality (VR) has gained attention as a potential balance-training tool, recognized for its superior user satisfaction and compliance. However, questions regarding the impact of VR on balance control mechanisms in MS patients compared to healthy individuals, or in traditional environments, remain unanswered.
This study aims to investigate how MS individuals manage their balance in VR contexts. Assessing balance and evaluating various physiological and biomechanical implications connected to neural activity and movement analysis respectively, the study may elucidate essential indicators of MS progression and contribute to more personalized treatment strategies. Previous literature suggests that patients can transfer skills learned in VR to real-world settings, and this study seeks to determine the effectiveness of VR in enhancing balance control in MS individuals.
Given the intriguing but underexplored potential of VR in neurological rehabilitation, especially in MS, systematic research using a VR environment is necessary. It will not only provide critical data to support this approach but also deepen our understanding of the physiological balance response and balance control mechanisms in people with MS. The study aims to bridge this research gap, proposing an empirical approach to estimate the role of VR in balance control.
Audience Take Away
- Understanding Multiple Sclerosis (MS): MS is a progressive autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, damaging the protective sheath (myelin) that covers nerve fibers, and causing communication issues between your brain and the rest of your body. This damage often results in issues with balance and motor control
- MS and Balance Control: Balance issues are one of the most common problems faced by individuals with MS. These issues are often due to the combination of muscle weakness, muscle tightness, changes in joint sensation, or other neurological deficits
- Virtual Reality (VR) as a Therapeutic Tool: VR has been identified as an effective tool for therapeutic interventions in recent years. It provides immersive, engaging environments that can be customized to meet the specific needs of the individual patient, making it a versatile tool for a variety of conditions, including MS
- VR in MS Rehabilitation: Specifically in the context of MS, VR can be used to improve balance control and reduce the risk of falls. This is achieved through a range of exercises designed to target the various mechanisms of balance control that are commonly affected in MS, such as weight shifting, gait training, and enhancing proprioception
- Personalized Training: With VR, it is possible to create a personalized, adaptive training program for each individual based on their specific balance control deficits. This personalized approach is more likely to result in meaningful improvements in balance control
- Safe Environment: VR provides a safe environment for individuals with MS to work on balance control. They can push their boundaries without the risk of injury, something that may not be possible in the real world
- Motivation and Engagement: The engaging nature of VR environments can motivate patients to stick with their therapy programs, making them more likely to see improvements over time
