Effect of Virtual Reality Upper Limb Rehabilitation Training on Older Adults

Abstract

Virtual reality has gained more attention in the physical training field, but few studies focus on the effects of VR on older adults. Based on existing study we suggest that VR-based upper limb training might be more effective for older adults and used functional near inferred spectrum and movement analysis to evaluate the effects of VR-based training on older adults. 20 older and 20 youth adults were recruited to perform VR training by extending their upper limb to reaching the objects, and non-VR training as a contrast. Both age-related and task-related differences were found in cortical activation, showing that the VR training has aroused more cortical activation. The older groups have more intensive movement but perform worse in terms of task completion. Both groups performed better in VR, and the difference in the older group was higher.

Keywords:

• virtual reality
• older adults
• upper limb rehabilitation
• functional near infrared spectrum

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The project was supported by MOE (Ministry of Education in China) Project of Humanities and Social Sciences [Project No.17YJC760009 and 17YJC760042]; The Second Batch of 2022 MOE of PRC Industry University Collaborative Education Program [Program No. 220705329313258, Kingfar-CES "Human Factors and Ergonomics" Program] and Shandong Social Science Planning Fund Program [Project No.18CCXJ23].