• 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.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.227-238
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was to investigate the effects on using Virtual reality exercise program($Wii-Fit^{TM}$) for dynamic balance and walking ability in patients with stroke. Methods : The 22 subjects were randomly selected from the patients of the S hospital who met the study conditions. They were divided into a $Wii-Fit^{TM}$ balance game group of 12 patients and a conventional physical therapy group of 10 patients. The $Wii-Fit^{TM}$ balance game group received $Wii-Fit^{TM}$ balance game group general physiotherapy for 5 days a weeks, 30 minutes a day, for a 4 weeks and the conventional physical therapy group received general physiotherapy for the same period. The subjects were measured and compared for Brunel balance assessment, functional gait assessment, 6 minute walk test, GAITRite system before and after the program. Results : The experimental group tend to improve more than control group in shifting the weight to the affected side(p=0.040) and tap test(p<0.001). The experimental group tend to improve more than control group in FGA(p=0.016). The experimental group improved significantly more than control group in 6MWT(p=0.008). The experimental group improved significantly more than control group in gait speed, cadence, stride length. Conclusions : Virtual Reality program($Wii-Fit^{TM}$) with conventional physical therapy shows the benefits on dynamic balance and gait parameters in patients with stroke.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.25-35
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• 2012

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of virtual reality program on fall efficacy and activities of daily living(ADL) for patients with stroke. Method : Twenty stroke patients were participated voluntarily and were assigned randomly into the control and the experimental groups. Both control and experimental groups were given same basic rehabilitation treatment while only the experimental group was given virtual reality program. The fall efficacy of both groups was assessed using fall efficacy scale(FES) and ADL performance ability was assessed by functional independence measure(FIM). Result : Fall efficacy and ADL performance ability showed a statistically meaningful difference for both experimental and control groups(p< .05), the fall efficacy and ADL performance ability of the experimental group improved meaningfully in a statistical way than that of the control group(p<. 05). Conclusion : It was found that carrying out virtual reality program with occupational therapy has an effect on fall efficacy and ADL performance ability of patients with stroke. Therefore, virtual reality program can be a way of treatment for patients with stroke to improve their fall efficacy and ADL performance ability, and the program can also be applied in clinics as well as occupational therapy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.155-161
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• 2020

PURPOSE: This study investigated the effect of a head-mounted display (HMD) based virtual reality (VR) cognitive rehabilitation program on the cognitive ability and activities of daily living in patients with mild cognitive impairment. METHODS: This study enrolled 5 mild cognitive impairment patients at the G welfare center in Gwangju metropolitan city. Patients were examined using the MMSEDS (Mini mental state examination-dementia screening). The VR cognitive rehabilitation program was applied twice a week for four weeks. The functional independence measure (FIM) and Loewenstein occupational therapy cognitive assessment-geriatric population (LOTCA-G) were compared before and after applying the VR cognitive rehabilitation program. RESULTS: Subsequent of application of the VR cognitive rehabilitation program, significant increase was observed in the LOTCA-G score. The FIM score was also perceived to increase, after the intervention, but was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Application of the VR cognitive rehabilitation program as a therapy is effective in improving the visual perception, and upper extremity executive ability, especially orientation, thinking organization, attention, and concentration.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.171-177
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• 2020

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the upper limb strength, active joint range of motion (AROM), and upper limb function in persons with chronic stroke using virtual reality training in combination with upper limb sensory stimulation. Design: Two-group pretest-posttest design. Methods: 20 subjects were divided into two groups of 10, the sensory motor stimulation and virtual reality training (SMVR) and virtual reality training (VR) groups. The training was conducted for 30 minutes per session, three times a week for 8 weeks.The participants' upper limb strength was measured via the hand-held dynamometer, joint angle AROM was measured via dual inclinometer, function was measured using the Jebson-Taylor hand function test and the manual function test. Results: Significant differences were observed in all groups before and after the training for upper extremity strength, AROM, and function (p<0.05). Between the two groups, the SMVR group showed significant improvement in muscle strength, AROM, and Jebsen-Taylor hand function test scores compared with the VR groups (p<0.05). Conclusions: In this study, we confirmed that sensory stimulation and VR had positive effects on upper extremity strength, AROM, and function of persons with chronic stroke. The results suggest that in the future, VR in combination with sensory stimulation of the upper limb is likely to become an effective method (a rehabilitation training program) to improve the upper limb function of persons with chronic stroke.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.10 no.8
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• pp.203-212
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cognitive rehabilitation programs using Virtual Reality(VR) content on the daily living abilities such as cognitive abilities, depression, and upper extremity functions of the elderly. The study group analyzed the effectiveness by separating the experimental group, which is the virtual reality cognitive rehabilitation application group, and the control group, the universal cognitive stimulation program application group. As a result of the study, the MMSE-K score improved by 13.0% in the experimental group and 2.3% in the control group. The improvement in each area of the experimental group was found to be 3.1% MBI, 7.1% MFT(Rt.), 3.5% MFT(Lt.), and 25.4% K-GDS. As a result of comparing the pre-post score change between each group, there was a significant difference between groups in daily living ability (p<.001) and MFT(Rt.)(p<.01). In addition, as a result of comparing the changes in absolute alpha waves to confirm the degree of depression through brain waves, there was no statistically significant difference. However, in the experimental group, it was confirmed that the average value increased to a positive value. This study is an experiment to verify the effectiveness of the cognitive rehabilitation program using virtual reality contents, and suggests a new intervention method to maintain and improve the daily life ability, cognitive function, depression and upper extremity function of the elderly.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.11-19
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• 2017

Purpose : This study examined the effects of balance training using virtual reality program on sitting balance ability and activities of daily living (ADL) in stroke patients. Method : In the study, 20 patients with hemiplegia were divided into two groups: experiment group (EG) of 10 patients and control group(CG) of 10 patients. The two groups received general occupational therapy for 30 minutes, per day, at a rate of 5 times per week for 6 weeks. The EG was additionally conducted which was performed virtual reality balance training and the CG was conducted general occupational therapy balance training for 30-minutes, once a day, 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Result : The evaluations of this study included: limit of stability(LOS), modified Functional Reach Test(mFRT), and modified Barthel Index(MBI). The patients were evaluated before and after their six week training programs. Significant differences in the LOS, mFRT, MBI were found between pretest and posttest scores in both the EG and CG groups(p<.05). Also, LOS, mFRT, MBI were significant different between the groups at post-test(p<.05). Conclusion : The study findings suggest that virtual reality balance training can improve sitting balance and ADL ability in stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.351-367
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to identity effects of virtual reality(VR) program related to standing postural control on balance, gait and brain activation patterns in chronic hemiplegic stroke patients. Subjects were assigned randomly to either VR group (n=12) or the control group (n=12) when the study began. Both groups received conventional physical therapy for 2 to 3 times per week. In addition to conventional physical therapies, VR group trained 3 types of virtual reality programs using IREX for standing postural control during 4 weeks (4 times/week, 30 minutes/time). Subjects were assessed for static and dynamic balance parameters using BPM, functional balance using Berg Balance Scale related to movement of paretic lower limb before and after 4 weeks of virtual reality training. The results of this study were as follows. 1. Following VR training, VR group demonstrated the marked improvement on dynamic mean balance, anteroposterior limits of stability (AP angle) and mediolateral limits of stability (ML angle). 2. Following VR training, both groups scored higher on Berg Balance Scale. However, a comparison of mean change revealed differences between groups. In conclusion, these data suggest that the postural control training using VR programs improve dynamic and functional balance performance in chronic hemiplegic stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.8
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• pp.63-70
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• 2020

This study was designed to test the convergence effectiveness of virtual reality programs for patients with stroke by using meta-analysis. Based on the PICOS criteria, we searched domestic literature and selected the final 9 studies in relation to 'stroke' and 'virtual reality programs'. Evaluation of the risk of bias in individual studies was conducted using evaluation tools according to the design of each study. The effect size of the meta-analysis was calculated using CMA program. The mediating effect analysis was conducted by sub-group analysis and meta-regression analysis. The overall effect size of the virtual reality program on the activities of daily living ability was Hedges's g=0.302(95% CI: 0.064~0.540), Therefore, virtual reality programs can increase the activities of daily living in stroke patients and have a positive impact on the medical industry that the convergence of virtual reality industry and healthcare industry.