Clinical Feasibility of Applying Immersive Virtual Reality during Robot-Assisted Gait Training for Individuals with Neurological Diseases: A Pilot Study

This study explores the use of virtual reality (VR) to help people with neurological diseases relearn how to walk. The study uses a headset to display a virtual environment while patients use a robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) device. The goal was to see if using VR with RAGT is safe and if patients and therapists find it acceptable. Patients walked in a virtual world while their movements were supported by the RAGT device. The results showed that this approach is safe, patients tolerated it well, and both patients and therapists were generally positive about using VR in this way. This suggests VR could be a useful addition to traditional rehabilitation.

• 1
  The study demonstrates that a fully immersive virtual reality system based on a head-mounted display is both feasible and well received by cerebrovascular accident and spinal cord injury patients and their therapists during robot-assisted gait training.
• 2
  The results suggest that an immersive virtual reality system is feasible in terms of safety and tolerance.
• 3
  The very positive overall acceptance of the system suggests that it has the potential to be included in a robot-assisted gait training session using Lokomat®.