Virtual Reality Reveals Mechanisms of Balance and Locomotor Impairments

Abstract

(from the introduction) This chapter reviews how virtual reality VR) can be used to investigate normal and disturbed mechanisms of balance and locomotor control. Loss of upright balance control resulting in falls is a major health problem for older adults and stroke survivors. Balance and mobility deficits arise not only from motor or sensory impairments but also from the inability to select and reweight pertinent sensory information. In particular, the role of the vestibular system and effects of age and stroke on the ability of the central nervous system to resolve sensory conflicts is emphasized, as well as the potential for rehabilitation protocols that include training in virtual environments to improve balance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)