• 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.

• International Journal of Contents
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 2010

This study details the neuroscientific concept of somatosensation, general sensory stimulation therapy and virtual reality therapy. Somatosensation is a method that the human body uses to accept information from the inner and outer parts of the body. A traditional sensory stimulation therapy was designed to maximize neural recovery, but the neural recovery is most effective when the therapeutic environment is similar to real life. The virtual reality provides natural environment that users may perceive as meaningful and even participants with significant impairment can perform some of the activities of their daily lives within the virtual environment. The virtual reality will become a complementary part of somatosensory rehabilitation.

• Journal of Institute of Convergence Technology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.5-12
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• 2012

Recently, peoples are suffering from various psychological disorders such as addiction, phobia, depression, and bipolar disorder. Moreover, children with ADD/ADHD and autism are increasing. Korean tends to regard the psychological disorders as taboo. Therefore, it is unusual case that the mental patient gets the psychological therapy. Virtual reality has come to the spotlight as a useful tool for the therapy due to its anonymity and easy accessibility. The therapy in the virtual reality is called cyber-therapy. Emotion of the patient is important for the treating process. The objective of this paper is to review the researches on the treatment of psychological disorders using the virtual reality and prospect the affective interaction technology for the cyber-therapy.

• 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.63-70
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• 2017

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the virtual reality exercise program on ankle balance with ankle taping or microwave. Methods : This study was performed on 18 subjects. Eighteen subjects were divided into two groups; conducted virtual reality exercises with taping (n=9), and performed virtual reality exercises after microwave application (n=9). Both groups performed the exercise three times a week for four weeks. The data was analyzed by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for comparing before and after changes of factors in each group and performed the Mann-Whitney test for comparing groups. Result : Taping and microwave groups were increased dynamic balance after virtual reality exercises (p<.05). There was no significant difference in balance after applying taping and microwave for virtual reality exercises (p<.05). Conclusion : Reducing the frequency of recurrent ankle sprain in functional ankle subjects, it is recommended to perform virtual reality exercise after applying taping and microwave.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.279-288
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• 2020

Objectives: Many fields have changed since covid-19, psychotherapy being no exception. With the pandemic associated increase in untact treatment, interest in virtual reality exposure therapy has also increased. The aim of study was to analyze recent literature using virtual reality therapy for the treatment of anxiety disorders. Methods: We searched five databases from dates between October 1 to November 1, 2020. We selected articles related to the treatment of anxiety disorders using virtual reality therapy and analyzed the trend of that, not thesis but domestic articles. Results: There were 6 RCT studies and 3 were case reports where, based on the DSM-4, the participants presented with anxiety disorders including 2 with presentation anxiety, 1 heterosexual anxiety, 1 test anxiety, 1 social anxiety, 1 dental anxiety, 2 Acrophobia, and 1 social phobia. Treatment sessions varied from 1 session to 18 sessions, but 5 studies conducted 4 sessions, and all studies attempted virtual reality exposure for 30-minute time periods. 8 studies used HMD as the VR device and 1 study did not report a device. Conclusions: Anxiety disorders treated using virtual reality included speech anxiety and acrophobia. Median treatment session number was 4 and sessions were less than 30 minutes. The most common VR device used was an HMD. VR psychotherapy showed limitations relating to patient experience including cyber sickness and a lack of immersion. In addition, most of the studies were conducted with patients who visited hospitals utilizing Western medical practices. Currently, virtual reality therapy (VRT) intervention in oriental medicine is lacking. The lack of research in this area suggests analyzing data from VR psychotherapy in oriental medicine could provide novel and useful information.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.33-40
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• 2009

Purpose: This study examined the effects of a virtual reality-based exercise program on the functional recovery of balance and gait in chronic stroke subjects. Methods: A total of 42 chronic stroke patients were enrolled in this study. The participants were allocated randomly to 2 groups: a VR (n=22) and control group (n=20). Both groups received treadmill training for 3 sessions (10 minutes each), 30 minutes per week over a 6 week period. The VR group practiced additional virtual reality programs consisting of 3 programs for 10 minutes each. The data was analyzed using a paired t-test and independent t-test to determine the statistical significance. Results: The virtual reality-based exercise group showed significant increases in gait velocity, cadence and stride length compared to the control group (p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in static balance. Conclusion: These results support the perceived benefits of exercise programs that incorporate virtual reality to augment the balance and ambulation of stroke patients. Therefore, virtual reality is feasible and suitable for stroke patients

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.183-194
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• 2020

Purpose: Functional ankle instability (FAI) causes tension in the joints, ligaments, and tendons, and the impact on visual and vestibular organs leads to imbalance. This study compared the effects of a traditional balance training program to virtual reality training to improve FAI. Methods: Twenty-four participants with FAI (CAIT score < 24) were assigned to a virtual reality training group (n = 13) and a traditional balance training group (n = 11). Both groups pursued their respective training program for four weeks. After a ten-minute warm-up, participants completed a 30-minute training session, three times per week. The traditional balance training group underwent static and dynamic training using a balance board and a stability trainer pad while the virtual reality group underwent balance training using a virtual reality program. Biorescue was used to measure changes in the speed and length of center of pressure (COP) for single-leg stance pre- and post-training. Results: The speed and length of COP improved significantly in both groups after training as compared to before (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in these outcomes between the virtual reality training group and the traditional balance training group (p>0.05). Conclusion: The study findings confirm the effectiveness of both virtual reality training and traditional balance training in reducing ankle instability, with no difference in treatment effects.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.31-38
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was examined the effect of training using a Virtual Reality System on the sitting balance and Activities of Daily Living for patients with a spinal cord injury. Methods: The subjects were divided into an experimental (6 persons) and control group (5 persons). The experimental group trained the 5 programs, three times per week for 6 weeks using the Virtual Reality System and five days for week using conventional physical therapy. The control group trained five days for a week using conventional physical therapy. Results: The difference in the mean Spinal Cord Independence Measurement (SCIM) score in the experimental and control groups was increased to 8.33 and 6.60 (p=0.79), respectively. The difference in the mean functional reaching test in experimental and control group increased to 4.21 and 1.09 (p=0.25), respectively. The difference in the mean sitting time in experimental and control group increased to 41.05 and 10.33 (p=0.66), respectively. There was a difference in the mean of all variances but these differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion: These results suggest that training using the Virtual Reality System increased the SCIM, functional reaching test and sitting time in people with a spinal cord injury.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a virtual reality-based occupational therapy program on the physical function and learning ability of intellectually disabled school-aged children. Methods : In this study, 20 intellectually disabled children of school age were randomly and evenly divided into experimental and control groups with children in the experimental group receiving a virtual reality-based occupational therapy intervention. The study adopted a pretest-posttest design. The intervention was conducted for a total of 12 sessions for six weeks, twice a week, and 50 minutes per session. As measurement tools, BOT-2 and grooved pegboard tests were used to compare physical function before and after the intervention program, and K-ABC was used to check changes in learning ability. Results : The occupational therapy program produced a significant improvement in both physical function and learning ability of the experimental group. A significant difference was observed between the experimental and control groups. Conclusion : This study confirmed the value and usefulness of virtual reality-based occupational therapy as a tool for enhancing the physical function and learning ability of intellectually disabled school-aged children. Based on the results, a variety of future studies are encouraged that would further test the effects of the occupational therapy program used here.