The effectiveness of virtual reality training in reducing the risk of falls among elderly people

Figures & data

Table 1 General characteristics of the study sample

	Characteristics of the study sample (n=23)
Sex	n	%
Women	19	82.6
Men	4	17.4
Age (years)
<80	14	60.9
≥80	9	39.1
Concomitant diseases
Hypertension	18	78.26
Ischemic heart disease	8	34.78
Diabetes	8	34.78
Urinary disorders	2	8.70
Digestive disorders	10	43.48
Motor system diseases	18	78.26
Neurological diseases	4	17.39
Other diseases	8	34.78
Other	Mean	±SD
Age (years)	75.74	8.09
Height (cm)	162.22	4.91
Weight (kg)	68.91	9.07
Body mass index (BMI)	21.25	2.80
SBP (mmHg)	135.39	12.42
DBP (mmHg)	80.91	10.32
Heart rate	74.70	10.31
Number of diseases	3.30	1.49
Number of drugs taken	3.48	1.73

Abbreviations: n, number of participants; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure

Table 2 Test results before and after the training sessions

	Before training (n=23)		After training (n=23)		P-value
	Mean	±SD	Mean	±SD
6MWT	173.70	64.76	215.43	65.75	<0.001
DGI	20.39	1.73	20.91	1.65	0.008
TST	12.96	3.18	17.00	4.97	<0.001
TWT	3.70	0.70	4.26	0.62	0.002
BDI	16.52	7.69	11.91	5.84	<0.001
Dynamometer right hand	13.09	5.76	12.74	5.45	0.106
Dynamometer left hand	12.57	5.57	12.09	5.11	0.043

Abbreviations: 6MWT, 6-minute walking test; BDI, Beck Depression Inventory; DGI, Dynamic Gait Index; TST, tandem stance test; TWT, tandem walking test; n, number of participants.

Table 3 Test results before and after the training sessions, by age

	Age <80 years (n=14)					Age ≥80 years (n=9)
	Before training		After training sessions		P-value	Before training		After training sessions		P-value
	Mean	±SD	Mean	±SD		Mean	±SD	Mean	±SD
6MWT	188.57	71.67	227.86	77.38	<0.001	150.56	46.87	196.11	38.31	0.008
DGI	20.50	1.87	20.79	1.81	0.068	20.22	1.56	21.11	1.45	0.043
TST	13.64	3.69	17.57	5.98	<0.001	11.89	1.90	16.11	2.89	0.008
TWT	3.86	0.66	4.43	0.51	0.012	3.44	0.73	4.00	0.71	0.068
BDI	14.29	7.16	10.57	6.39	0.003	20.00	7.53	14.00	4.39	0.012
Dynamometer right hand	13.86	6.81	13.36	6.45	0.109	11.89	3.62	11.78	3.49	0.655
Dynamometer left hand	12.57	5.27	12.07	5.11	0.067	12.56	6.33	12.11	5.42	0.423

Abbreviations: 6MWT, 6-minute walking test; BDI, Beck Depression Inventory; DGI, Dynamic Gait Index; TST, tandem stance test; TWT, tandem walking test; n, number of participants.

Table 4 Differences between the mean results before and after the training sessions, by age

	Age <80 years (n=14)		Age ≥80 years (n=9)		P-value
	Before and after training sessions		Before and after training sessions
	Mean	±SD	Mean	±SD
6MWT	39.29	23.11	45.56	29.42	0.612
DGI	0.29	0.47	0.89	0.93	0.103
TST	3.93	2.67	4.22	2.11	0.586
TWT	0.57	0.51	0.56	0.73	0.803
BDI	−3.71	3.52	−6.00	4.61	0.229
Dynamometer right hand	−0.50	1.09	−0.11	0.78	0.295
Dynamometer left hand	−0.50	0.85	−0.44	1.42	0.536

Abbreviations: 6MWT, 6-minute walking test; BDI, Beck Depression Inventory; DGI, Dynamic Gait Index; TST, tandem stance test; TWT, tandem walking test; n, number of participants.