The efficacy of virtual reality exposure therapy for fear of falling (fof) in the elderly

Abstract

Fear of falling down is common among older people because it occurs on average in 50% of those who have fallen in the previous year. Our main aim was to investigate the reduction of FOF in elderly fallers using a virtual reality exposure therapy. To pursue this aim we developed a virtual reality exposure therapy system to clarify the following two experiments, let the subject wear it and watch it, collect various vital data of the subject, and confirm the effectiveness of our VR exposure therapy. In this study, we conducted a preliminary study on two elderly people who had fallen previously effect of reducing fear of falling by VR exposure therapy is confirmed.