Gait Training in Virtual Reality: Short-Term Effects of Different Virtual Manipulation Techniques in Parkinson’s Disease
It is well documented that there is a strong relationship between gait asymmetry and the freezing of gait (FOG) in Parkinson’s Disease. The purpose of this pilot study was to find a “virtual reality (VR)- based” gait manipulation strategy to improve gait symmetry by equ...
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doaj-4b876bf47d4648b4927a8a6805dab8fe2020-11-25T00:52:58ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092019-05-018541910.3390/cells8050419cells8050419Gait Training in Virtual Reality: Short-Term Effects of Different Virtual Manipulation Techniques in Parkinson’s DiseaseOmar Janeh0Odette Fründt1Beate Schönwald2Alessandro Gulberti3Carsten Buhmann4Christian Gerloff5Frank Steinicke6Monika Pötter-Nerger7Human Computer Interaction, Department of Informatics, University of Hamburg, D-22527 Hamburg, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20215 Hamburg, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20215 Hamburg, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20215 Hamburg, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20215 Hamburg, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20215 Hamburg, GermanyHuman Computer Interaction, Department of Informatics, University of Hamburg, D-22527 Hamburg, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20215 Hamburg, GermanyIt is well documented that there is a strong relationship between gait asymmetry and the freezing of gait (FOG) in Parkinson’s Disease. The purpose of this pilot study was to find a “virtual reality (VR)- based” gait manipulation strategy to improve gait symmetry by equalizing step length. Fifteen male PD patients (mean age of 67.6 years) with FOG were assessed on a GAITRite<sup>®</sup> walkway. Natural gait was compared with walking conditions during “VR-based” gait modulation tasks that aimed at equalizing gait symmetry using visual or proprioceptive signals. Compared to natural gait, VR manipulation tasks significantly increased step width and swing time variability for both body sides. Within the VR conditions, only the task with “proprioceptive-visual dissociation” by artificial backward shifting of the foot improved spatial asymmetry significantly with comparable step lengths of both sides. Specific, hypothesis-driven VR tasks represent an efficient tool to manipulate gait features as gait symmetry in PD potentially preventing FOG. This pilot study offers promising “VR-based” approaches for rehabilitative training strategies to achieve gait symmetry and prevent FOG.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/8/5/419Parkinson’s diseasegait trainingvirtual realityrehabilitationgait asymmetryfreezing of gait |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Omar Janeh Odette Fründt Beate Schönwald Alessandro Gulberti Carsten Buhmann Christian Gerloff Frank Steinicke Monika Pötter-Nerger |
spellingShingle |
Omar Janeh Odette Fründt Beate Schönwald Alessandro Gulberti Carsten Buhmann Christian Gerloff Frank Steinicke Monika Pötter-Nerger Gait Training in Virtual Reality: Short-Term Effects of Different Virtual Manipulation Techniques in Parkinson’s Disease Cells Parkinson’s disease gait training virtual reality rehabilitation gait asymmetry freezing of gait |
author_facet |
Omar Janeh Odette Fründt Beate Schönwald Alessandro Gulberti Carsten Buhmann Christian Gerloff Frank Steinicke Monika Pötter-Nerger |
author_sort |
Omar Janeh |
title |
Gait Training in Virtual Reality: Short-Term Effects of Different Virtual Manipulation Techniques in Parkinson’s Disease |
title_short |
Gait Training in Virtual Reality: Short-Term Effects of Different Virtual Manipulation Techniques in Parkinson’s Disease |
title_full |
Gait Training in Virtual Reality: Short-Term Effects of Different Virtual Manipulation Techniques in Parkinson’s Disease |
title_fullStr |
Gait Training in Virtual Reality: Short-Term Effects of Different Virtual Manipulation Techniques in Parkinson’s Disease |
title_full_unstemmed |
Gait Training in Virtual Reality: Short-Term Effects of Different Virtual Manipulation Techniques in Parkinson’s Disease |
title_sort |
gait training in virtual reality: short-term effects of different virtual manipulation techniques in parkinson’s disease |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Cells |
issn |
2073-4409 |
publishDate |
2019-05-01 |
description |
It is well documented that there is a strong relationship between gait asymmetry and the freezing of gait (FOG) in Parkinson’s Disease. The purpose of this pilot study was to find a “virtual reality (VR)- based” gait manipulation strategy to improve gait symmetry by equalizing step length. Fifteen male PD patients (mean age of 67.6 years) with FOG were assessed on a GAITRite<sup>®</sup> walkway. Natural gait was compared with walking conditions during “VR-based” gait modulation tasks that aimed at equalizing gait symmetry using visual or proprioceptive signals. Compared to natural gait, VR manipulation tasks significantly increased step width and swing time variability for both body sides. Within the VR conditions, only the task with “proprioceptive-visual dissociation” by artificial backward shifting of the foot improved spatial asymmetry significantly with comparable step lengths of both sides. Specific, hypothesis-driven VR tasks represent an efficient tool to manipulate gait features as gait symmetry in PD potentially preventing FOG. This pilot study offers promising “VR-based” approaches for rehabilitative training strategies to achieve gait symmetry and prevent FOG. |
topic |
Parkinson’s disease gait training virtual reality rehabilitation gait asymmetry freezing of gait |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/8/5/419 |
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