• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.7-11
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• 2013

Objective: Final goal of nerve advancement therapy is to provide maximum ability to function independently in life to patients. This paper appraises and describes basic concepts of the virtual reality (VR) based exercise program to improve functional movement for neurologically impaired patients. Design: Review article. Methods: Stroke patients from the physical therapy department while wearing comfortable clothing receive therapy and also VR based motion therapy administered by the therapist in charge. After evaluation of stroke patients, therapy includes an exercise program that is suitable for use with stroke patients; stroke patients wear head-mounted display while in front of the computer, where the camera is located; they follow the action on the screen and the computer perceives the operation of the stroke patients according to subject accomplishment. Results: According to obstacle condition of stroke patients using the method, which is various environments after setting, in stroke patients, there is a possibility of presenting suitable therapeutic environments. The display presentation of the method, which is identical, causes difficulty for all stroke patients. According to subject accomplishment; stroke patients result in execution of repetition training and deepening study, which leads to mobility. Conclusions: The VR based rehabilitation training programs is a difference of the existing video training program, is immediate feedback and compensation method. It will provide rehabilitation training services for the family of the patient whose condition could be improved with rehabilitative therapy where it is a continuous circumstance as a matter of the social welfare facility therapy.

• 국제물리치료학회지
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.2021-2027
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• 2020

Background: Previous robot-mediated gait training has been proven several limitations such as pointless repeated motion training, decreased presence, etc. In this research, adult stroke patients were participated in robot-mediated gait training accompanied with or without virtual reality program. Objectives: Exploring whether the results indicated virtual reality system has contribution to muscle strength and balance ability. Design: A case series research, cross-over trial. Methods: Eleven participants (male 4, female 7) with adults diagnosed as stroke from medical doctor ware engaged. The participants received 2 treatment sessions of identical duration, robot-assisted gait training with virtual reality and robot-assisted gait training with screen-off randomly crossed over include 1-day for each person of wash-out period. The parameter was muscle activity, the researchers assessed sEMG (surface electromyography). Results: The result showed less muscle activities during training in robot-assisted gait training with virtual reality circumstances, and these indicated muscles were gluteus medius muscle, vastus medialis muscle, vastus intermedius and vastus lateralis muscle, semimembranosus muscle, gastrocnemius-lateral head, and soleus muscle (P<.05). Conclusion: In this study, we analyzed the outcome of muscle activity for clinical inference of robot-assisted gait training with virtual reality (VR). Less muscle activity was measured in the treatment accompanied by VR, therefore, a more systematic, in-depth and well-founded level of follow-up research is needed.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제28권6호
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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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• 제24권2호
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• pp.90-97
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of virtual reality-based continuous slow exercise on muscle strength and dynamic balance capacity, in older adults over 65 years of age. Methods: Twenty-six volunteers were randomly divided into two groups; a Virtual Reality (VR) exercise-group ($67.8{\pm}4.1$ yrs) and a Control group ($65.5{\pm}5.2$ yrs). The VR group participated in eight weeks of virtual reality exercise, utilizing modified Tai-Chi provided by a motion capture system, and the Control group had no intervention. The hip muscle strength and dynamic balance of the members of both the VR group and the Control group were measured at pre- and post-intervention, using a multimodal dynamometer, and backward stepping test, respectively. Results: 1. After the 8-week VR-based exercise, the VR group showed significant improvement of hip strength, compared to the control group: hip extension (p=0.00), flexion (p=0.00), abduction (p=0.00), and adduction (p=0.00). 2. After the 8-week VR-based exercise, the VR group showed significant improvement of dynamic balance capacity as ground reaction force, compared to the control group. Eyes opened backward stepping test: Fx (+) (p=0.00), Fy (-) (p=0.02), Ver (+) (p=0.02) direction. Eyes closed backward stepping test: Fx (+) (p=0.04), Fy (-) (p=0.04), Ver (+) (p=0.03) direction. Conclusion: The VR group showed improvement of their hip muscle strength, and dynamic balance capacity. Therefore VR-based continuous slow exercise would contribute to reducing the risk of falls in the elderly.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제26권6호
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• pp.430-435
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• 2014

Purpose: The objective of this study was a virtual reality-based balance training program effective for improvement in physical function, examined the balance ability and fall efficacy of elderly women with experienced falls, intending to examine the program's usefulness as an exercise program to prevent the recurrence of a fall. Methods: The participants were 30 elderly women aged 65 or older who met the conditions. The participants were randomly assigned to either a balance training group (BT) or a virtual reality-based balance training group (VT) and received the training three times per week, 30 minutes per day, for six weeks. To measure static balance, the Tetrax Portable Multiple System (Tetrax Ltd, Israel) were used. To measure dynamic balance, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and functional reach test (FRT) was used, and regarding fall efficacy, the Korean Fall Efficacy Scale (K-FES) was used. Results: Tetrax significantly improved after the intervention in both the BT group and the VT group (p<0.05). The comparison between the two groups was not significantly. BBS and FRT result significantly improved after the intervention in both the BT and VT groups (p<0.001), while K-FES was significantly ameliorated in the VT group only (p<.05). Comparing the groups, there were more significant changes in the BBS (p<0.05) and FRT (p<0.01) result of the VT group than the BT group. Conclusion: A virtual reality-based balance training program is considered to be usable as an exercise program to prevent recurrence of falls in elderly women.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• 제9권3호
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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.

• 만화애니메이션 연구
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• 통권22호
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• pp.81-97
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• 2011

가상현실(Virtual Reality) 기술은 우리 시대에 인간의 희로애락(喜怒哀樂)을 담아내는 진보적 수단으로 자리 잡고 있다. 최근에 인지심리학 분야에서 치료도구로서 사용하기 위한 다양한 시도들이 일어나고 있다. 오감을 통한 가상세계속의 실재감은 현실세계의 인지(Cognition) 의 의미를 재해석해야 할 만큼 우리에게 폭넓게 다가오고 있다. 이러한 패러다임의 변화를 바탕으로 가상현실 기술들을 활용한 새로운 치료방법들이 가능해지고 있는데 그 대표적인 경우가 공황장애를 극복하기위한 행동치료 분야라고 할 수 있다. 특히 가상공간 내에서의 유연한 상호작용(Interaction) 기술의 발전은 환자들이 접할 수 있는 물리적 체험환경을 심리체험의 장으로 유도해 낼 수 있다는 장점을 가지고 있다. 상호작용 기술은 사용자의 물리적 오감을 보다 적극적으로 자극할 수 있는 환경을 제공하며, 가상세계로 부터의 체험정보는 인간으로 하여금 잠재된 에너지들을 새롭게 환기(喚起) 시켜 현실적 경험들로 체득시키기에 매우 유용한 것이다. 가상현실치료의 장점은 장애 환자들의 증상에 따른 맞춤형 치료가 가능하고 치료단계별로 차별화시켜 적용할 수도 있다는 것이다. 각각의 증상과 단계별로 이루어지는 치료과정을 거치면서 환자들로 하여금 현실세계 환경과 상황에 점차 익숙해지게 하여 장애를 치료하는 것이다. 감성공학을 기반으로 한 몰입형 가상현실장비와 반작용 되먹임(force-relative feedback)기술과 입체음향, 그리고 후각을 자극하는 기술들은 인간의 오감을 자극하여 경험을 환기(喚起)시키는데 유용하다. 가상세계에 대한 몰입 감이 주는 장점으로는 도전, 상호작용, 사실성, 환상, 협동성과 같은 현상들이 확대 된다는 점일 것이다. 이러한 현실보강(augmented reality)기능을 확장시켜 치료분야에 적용하고 있는 것으로 최근에는 인터넷을 통한 가상공간과 데이터의 공유기술, 그리고 저렴한 가용성이 그 저변을 확대시키고 있다. 인지적 경험을 위한 능동적인 상호작용 환경을 제공하는 가상현실 치료기술은 두려움 때문에 실제 상황에 직면할 수 없는 환자들에게 적절하게 조절된 환경을 제시해 줄 수 있으며, 비밀이 보장되고, 안전하며, 경제적이라는 이점이 있다. 또한, 실시간(Realtime) 내비게이션을 하는 것을 원칙으로 하기 때문에 빠른 수정보완이 가능하며 안경 없이 입체영상을 볼 수 있는 렌티큘라(lenticular)기술의 보급으로 보다 사실적인 실재감(Presence) 구현이 가능해져서 사이버 멀미현상을 줄일 수 있게 되었다. 그리고 대화식 기술의 발전으로 가상공간 속에서 직접 자신의 손을 이용해서 내비게이션을 하거나 물체를 조종함으로서 실세계와 유사한 실재감에 근접해 가고 있다. 본 논문은 제한적이기는 하지만 장애치료에 활용하고 있는 감성공학기반 가상현실 기술의 특성과 적용범위와 문제점들을 살펴보고 미래의 가능성을 조망해 보고자 한다.

• 융합정보논문지
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.173-177
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• 2018

본 연구는 완전 몰입형 가상현실 게임을 통하여 완전 몰입형 가상현실 동작과 실제 동작에서의 근수축 개시시간을 비교 하여 보고자 한다. 정상성인 30명을 대상으로 가상현실 동작(펀치, 활쏘기)과 실제 동작(펀치, 활쏘기)에서의 근수축 개시시간을 비교하여 보았다. 본 연구 결과 가상현실 동작과 실제 동작에서의 근수축 개시시간에는 유의한 차이가 없었다(p>0.05). 본 연구를 통하여 물리치료와 완전 몰입형 가상현실을 융합하여 새로운 완전 몰입형 가상현실 콘텐츠를 개발 하여 물리치료에 적용 할 수 있을 것으로 생각되며, 다양한 치료 방법이 개발 될 것으로 보인다. 또한 추후 연구에서 뇌졸중 환자를 대상으로 완전 몰입형 가상현실을 적용하여 치료에 적용 할 수 있을지 알아볼 필요가 있다.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.18-25
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• 2017

Recently, VR HMD (virtual reality head mounted display) has been utilized for virtual training, entertainment, vision therapy, and optometry. In particular, virtual reality contents are increasingly used for vision therapy and optometry. Accordingly, high-quality virtual reality contents such as a natural vision of life is required. Therefore, it is necessary to study the content production according to the optical characteristics of the VR HMD. The purpose of this paper is to suggest a proper FOV (field of view) of contents according to the distortion rate. We produced virtual reality contents and obtained distorted images by virtual camera. The distortion rate is calculated by using the distorted image. It is proved that the optimal FOV of the VR content with the minimum distortion is $90{\sim}100^{\circ}$. The results of this study are expected to be applied to the production of high quality contents.

• 대한안전경영과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한안전경영과학회 2004년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.203-209
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• 2004

Virtual Reality(VR) is a new technology which makes humans communicate with computer. It allows the user to see, hear, feel and interact in a three-dimensional virtual world created graphically. In this paper, we introduced VR into psychotherapy area and developed VR system for the exposure therapy of acrophobia. Acrophobia is an abnormal fear of heights. Medications or cognitive-behavior methods have been mainly used as a treatment. Lately the virtual reality technology has been applied to that kind of anxiety disorders. A virtual environment provides patient with stimuli which arouses phobia, and exposing to that environment makes him having ability to over come the fear. In this study, the elevator stimulator that composed with a position sensor, head mount display, and audio system, is suggested. To illustrate the physiological difference between a person who has a feel of phobia and without phobia, heart rate was measured during experiment. And also measured a person's HR after the virtual reality training. In this study, we demonstrated the subjective effectiveness of virtual reality psychotherapy through the clinical experiment.