JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The Equitest® system (Neurocom, Clackamas, OR, USA) is a computerized dynamic posturography device used by healthcare providers and clinical researchers to safely test an individual’s postural control. While the Equitest® has evaluative and rehabilitative value, it may be limited due to its expense, lack of portability, and reliance on only sagittal plane movements. Virtual reality (VR) provides an opportunity to reduce these limitations by providing more mobile and cost-effective tools while also observing a wider array of postural characteristics.

Objective:

To test the plausibility of using VR as a feasible alternative to the Neurocom Equitest® for conducting the Sensory Organization Test?

Methods:

A convenience sample of twenty college-aged healthy individuals participated in the study. Participants completed the Sensory Organization Test using the Neurocom Equitest® as well as using a virtual reality environment while standing atop a force plate (Bertec, Inc., Columbus, OH). The Equitest® measures Equilibrium Index. During Virtual Reality trials, estimated Equilibrium Index, 95% ellipse area, path length, and anterior-posterior detrended fluctuation analysis scaling exponent alpha were calculated from center of pressure data. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to assess the relationship between Equilibrium Index and center of pressure derived balance measures. Intraclass correlations for absolute agreement and consistency were calculated to compare Equilibrium Index and estimated Equilibrium Index.

Results:

Intraclass correlations demonstrated moderate consistency and absolute agreement (0.5 < ICC < 0.75) between the Equilibrium Index and estimated Equilibrium Index from the Equitest® and VR SOT, respectively, in four of the six tested conditions. Additionally, weak to moderate correlations between force plate measurements and the Equilibrium Index were in several of the conditions.

Conclusions:

This research demonstrated the plausibility of using VR as an alternative method to conduct the SOT. Ongoing development and testing of virtual environments is necessary before employing these technology as a replacement to current clinical tests.