• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2010

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of virtual reality(VR) program on standing balance in stroke with sensory deficit. Methods : Subjects were assigned randomly to either VR group (n=28) or the control group (n=31) when study began. Both groups were conducted electricity therapy, exercise therapy 5 times per week during six weeks, and a group who have VR group 3 times per week during six weeks. Both groups assessed for standing balance before and after virtual reality program. Results : In standing balance, the virtual reality program which have sensory deficit in stroke group, open eyes from the center area of the body and center line significantly reduced the training period(p<.05). The virtual reality program to instantly move the weight through maximum voluntary safety limits to sensory deficit of virtual reality program(p<.05). Conclusion : Stroke patients with sensory deficit affects the recovery of the standing balance. In addition, virtual reality program was stroke patients with sensory deficit affects the recovery of standing balance.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.1-9
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an immersive, virtual reality-based exercise program on range of motion and dexterity in the upper extremities of stroke patients. Methods: Fifteen patients with hemiparesis after stroke participated in this study. The participants participated in Rapael Semart GloveTM, an immersive, virtual reality-based exercise program, performed for 30 minutes-, 3 times per week for 4 weeks. The Rapael Smart GloveTM program and a Box and Block Test (BBT) were used to measure range of motion and to assess dexterity, respectively, pre-and post-intervention. Results: Range of motion in pronation and supination of the forearm and flexion, extension, and ulnar deviation of the wrist improved after the intervention. Dexterity measured by BBT also improved. However, range of motion in flexion and extension of the fingers and radial deviation of the wrist did not improve. Conclusion: This study presents the effects of an immersive, virtual reality-based exercise program on hand function. In the future, a study comparing an immersive, virtual reality- based exercise program to other upper-extremity interventions for stroke patients should be conducted. A study about the effects of an immersive virtual reality program on activities of daily living is also needed.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.155-164
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation and virtual reality program application on cognition and depression of patients with mild cognitive impairment, and to find an intervention method that can enhance active participation of patients with mild cognitive impairment. Methods : In this study, 50 mild cognitive impairment patients were divided into a treatment group (25 patients) and a control group (25 patients). The treatment group was applied with a transcranial direct current stimulation and a virtual reality program, while the control group received a placebo transcranial direct current stimulation and a virtual reality program. Both groups received five 50-minute sessions per week (one session per day) for six weeks (total of 30 sessions). NCSE was used to evaluate the cognitive functions of the patients before and after treatment intervention. Moreover, K-BDI was conducted to examine the depression of the patients. Results : As a result of the transcranial direct current stimulation and a virtual reality program intervention, the cognitive function of both treatment and control group significantly (p<.05) improved, and the depression of both treatment and control group significantly (p<.05) decreased. Moreover, the changes in cognitive functions and depression were significant between the two groups¸ treatment and control group (p<.05). Conclusion : The results of the study showed that the application of the transcranial direct current stimulation and virtual reality program significantly improved the cognitive function of mild cognitive impairment patients and decreased the depression of them. Therefore, it could be concluded that the transcranial direct current stimulation and virtual reality program was an intervention method which positively affects the cognitive function and depression of mild cognitive impairment patients.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.109-124
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• 2024

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a virtual reality-based complex cognitive training program for depression, cognitive function, and digital divide reduction in the elderly who have not been diagnosed with dementia or MCI. Methods : We enrolled 16 participants who were over 65 years old and not been diagnosed with dementia or MCI. We randomly divided into three groups (A, B, C). Participants underwent an 8-week virtual reality-based complex cognitive training program (60 minutes each session, twice per week). At a baseline, all participants completed questionnaires on general features, depression and cognitive function. After four weeks, all participants completed questionnaires on depression and cognitive function. After the end of the last program, participants conducted questionnaires on depression, cognitive function, and usability evaluation. Results : At the 8-week follow-up, 16 participants completed the program. Compared to the baseline, the average score of cognitive function was increased (from 26.5 to 28.5), although it was not statistically significant (p<.061). There were no significant differences between baseline and post-training evaluations on depression scores. The average score of usability evaluation was 75.56, which corresponds to good. Conclusion : Even though the results showed no statistically significant findings in cognitive function and depression after the virtual reality-based complex cognitive training intervention, this pilot study proposed the possibility of utilizing the virtual reality program as a tool that provides active learning opportunities for the elderly and helps improve their cognitive function through multi-sensory components. Also, the findings of this study suggested a positive reevaluation of the elderly's digital access capabilities while reducing the digital divide. A virtual reality-based complex cognitive training program improved the social network of the elderly. We expect that it will expand in size and help with their social participation of the elderly.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.49-56
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• 2013

Purpose : This study aimed to understand the influence of the virtual reality program combined with cognitive activity on elderly people's balance ability. Method : We randomly divided 14 elderly people receiving daytime protection service from D daytime protection center for senior citizens located in Busan-si into a group(seven) with cognitive activity combined with virtual reality program, and the other group(seven) with only virtual reality program. In order to compare the balance ability before/after the therapeutic intervention, the Berg Balance Scale was carried out. The Mini-Mental State Examination-Korea(MMSE-K) was also conducted to compare their cognitive functions. Result : Both groups showed statistically significant differences in balance ability before/after the therapeutic intervention(p<.05) while there were no statistically significant differences in balance ability after the therapeutic intervention(p>.05). The cognitive functions before/after the therapeutic intervention were not statistically significantly different in both groups(p>.05). Conclusion : The findings showed that the application of virtual reality program combined with cognitive activity could improve elderly people's balance ability. It is considered that the application of virtual reality program can have positive influence on the improvement of elderly people's balance ability, as an intervention method for improving balance ability in the future.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.69-76
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• 2019

Purpose : This study examined the effects of a virtual reality rehabilitation program on stroke patients' upper extremity functions and activities of daily living (ADL). Methods : The subjects were equally and randomly divided into an experimental group (n=16) to whom a virtual reality rehabilitation program was applied and a control group (n=16) who received traditional occupational therapy. The intervention was applied five times per week, 30 minutes per each time, for six weeks. Jebsen-Taylor hand function test was conducted and the subjects' Manual Function Test was measured to examine their upper extremity functions before and after the treatment intervention, and a Korean version of modified Barthel index was calculated to look at their activities of daily living. Results : After the intervention, the upper extremity functions and activities of daily living of the participants in both groups significantly improved (p<.05). However, the improvements in these parameters among the participants in the virtual reality rehabilitation program were significantly greater than those in the control group (p>.05). Conclusion : The virtual reality rehabilitation program is a stable and reliable intervention method for enhancing the upper limb functions and activities of daily living of stroke patients.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.730-737
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• 2014

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of virtual reality cognitive rehabilitation program on cognitive function, physical function and depression of long-term care insurance nongrading elderly dementia using Daytime protection service. For achieve this purpose, 30 dementia elderly were randomly assigned in to the experimental group(n=15)and control group(n=15). All subjects performed a general therapeutic exercise and 20- 30minutes takes virtual reality cognitive rehabilitation program were conducted with experimental group 2 times a week for 8 weeks. The intervention effects were measured by using cognitive function is mini-mental states examination-Korean version(MMSE-K), visual perception is MVPT(Motor-Free Visual Perception Test), Berg's balance scales(BBS), depression test GDS-K and lower limb strength. The results of study represented that the training group showed significant improvement in MMSEK( p<.05), visual perception(p<.05), balance(p<.05), lower limb strength(p<.05) and depression (p<.05). In conclusion, the virtual reality cognitive rehabilitation training using improves visual perception included cognitive function, physical function included balance, and lower limb strength and depression. These results suggest that virtual reality training using virtual reality cognitive rehabilitation program is feasible and suitable for mild dementia.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.355-363
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• 2016

Purpose: In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of a 12-week virtual reality exercise program using the Nintendo Wii console (Wii) in improving balance, emotion, and quality of life among patients with cognitive decline. Methods: The study included 30 patients with cognitive decline (12 female, 18 male) who were randomly assigned to an experimental (n=15) and control groups (n=15). All subjects performed a traditional cognitive rehabilitation program and the experimental group performed additional three 40-minute virtual reality based video game (Wii) sessions per week for 12 weeks. The berg balance scale (BBS) was used to assess balance abilities. The short form geriatric depression scale-Korean (GDS-K) and the Korean version of quality of life-Alzheimer's disease (KQOL-AD) scale were both used to assess life quality in patients. Statistical significance was tested within and between groups before and after treatment, using Wilcoxon signed rank and Mann-Whitney u-tests. Results: After 36 training sessions, there were significant beneficial effects of the virtual reality game exercise on balance (BBS), GDS-K, and KQOL-AD in the experimental group when compared to the control group. No significant difference was observed within the control group. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that a virtual reality-training program could improve the outcomes in terms of balance, depression, and quality of life in patients with cognitive decline. Long-term follow-ups and further studies of more efficient virtual reality training programs are needed.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.96-102
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of a training program using virtual reality on the balance and lower muscular strength of Parkinson's disease patients. Methods: The study included 22 patients with Parkinson's disease who were arbitrarily classified into 2 groups: 11 patients in the experimental group and 11 patients in the control group. Balance was measured with the Berg balance scale (BBS), the functional reach test (FRT), one-leg stance test (OLST), and the timed up and go test (TUG); whereas, lower muscular strength was measured with the sit-to-stand test (STS). Ping-Pong, bowling, and tennis were selected for virtual reality training for the experimental group, and were performed for 30 minutes 3 times a week for 8 weeks. The control group did not undergo any of the virtual reality training programs. Results: A significant difference was observed in the BBS, FRT, OLST, TUG, and STS results within the experimental group that underwent the virtual reality training program. On the other hand, no significant difference was observed in the BBS, FRT, OLST, TUG, and STS values within the control groups. Conclusion: In conclusion, the virtual reality training program positively affects the balance and lower muscular strength in Parkinson's disease patients. This result indicates the possibility of application of the virtual reality training program to the management for Parkinson's disease patients, and highlights the need for the development and application of more efficient virtual reality training programs in the future.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.59-68
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• 2017

Purpose : The aims of this study was to conduct a systematic literature review with meta-analysis to investigate the effect of virtual reality based rehabilitation program on balance of patient with stroke in Korean studies. Method : The studies for analysis were searched in electronic databases(Research Information Sharing Service; RISS, Korean Studies Information Service; KISS, DBpia, e-articles, National Assembly Library). The key words for search were 'virtual reality', 'stroke', and 'balance' and only randomized controlled trials and clinical controlled trials were included. Of 40 studies identified in the search, 20 studies met the criteria of this study and included in this meta-analysis. Result : The results were as follows: 1) The overall effect size of virtual reality based rehabilitation program was 0.557(95% critical interval; 0.340~0.774). 2) In the analysis of sub-categorical variables, effect size was as follows; the commercial game type(0.621) > virtual environment type(0.335); the dynamic balance measurement(0.750) > static balance measurement(0.226); randomized controlled trial(0.653) > clinical controlled trial(0.275); and thesis type(0.706) > article of journal type(0.339). 3) In the analysis of sub-continuous variables, as time of program(per session) increased, the balance increased(p<0.05). Conclusion : The results of this study showed that virtual reality based rehabilitation program moderately improves the balance of stroke patient. Further studies are recommended to investigate the effect of sub-variables related to virtual reality programs on motor functions of patient with stroke.