Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Chander, Harish

Committee Member

Knight, Adam C.

Committee Member

Pan, Zhujun

Date of Degree

12-10-2021

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Kinesiology

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Education

Department

Department of Kinesiology

Abstract

Virtual reality (VR) is becoming increasingly important in balance training. However, the influence of VR generated visual perturbation, through the novel virtual moving room paradigm, is unknown. Thirty healthy individuals had their static balance assessed on a BTrackS balance plate under eight different conditions: baseline eyes open and eyes closed with and without VR, unexpected toward and away moving VR perturbation, and expected toward and away moving VR perturbation. Multiple statistical analyses were conducted, and the results revealed significantly higher postural sway variables in the unexpected moving toward trials compared to the other moving room conditions; significantly higher postural sway variables in the eyes open no VR compared to VR; and significantly higher postural sway variables in the eyes closed no VR compared to VR. This study provides evidence that VR can be used as a safe and low-cost balance training tool by exposing individuals to fall-prone situations and increasing their balance confidence.

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