JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Head-mounted virtual reality (VR) systems more popular every day in vestibular rehabilitation. This system increases motivation, interest, and involvement of the subjects. However, using different images may create different results in patients.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to examine whether VR images currently used for vestibular rehabilitation cause stress and find out which image is more appropriate for different diagnosis.

Methods:

The study was carried out on 36 participants (18 females and 18 males) from 18 to 30 years old. To assess balance control components separately the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) was administered to the participants in the presence of stressful and relaxing environment images with virtual reality technology. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) Test was also employed to measure the stress values in the created environments.

Results:

In the measurements in the VR presence, significant decreases were observed mostly in the visual system data. A statistically significant increase in vestibular system data was observed with a decrease in visual system data when the relaxing image was presented (p<0.05). Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference in the somatosensory, composite, and visual system data in the presence of stressful videos(p<0.05).

Conclusions:

Although the use of a VR for vestibular rehabilitation is relatively new, no extant studies have examined how the image type used in VR can affect the integration of visual system data. When VR is being employed for therapeutic vestibular rehabilitation in patients whose balance disorder is due to the vestibular system, stress-free videos should be employed.