Effect of a semi-immersive virtual reality navigation therapy on quality of life in persons with spinal cord injury

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to develop a sailing simulation-based therapeutic rehabilitation program for individuals with Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) during the subacute phase of the injury.

Methods

Participants were 11 patients, aged between 20–56 years (M_age = 42.36, SD_age=12.90), who were randomly assigned into experimental group and control group, within a pre-test/post-test quasi-experimental design. While both groups followed the rehabilitation programmed by the hospital, experimental group participants were enrolled in an interactive rehabilitation exercise (The vSail-Access®, Virtual Sailing Pty Ltd). For this intervention, each subject underwent a semi-immersive Virtual Reality (VR) navigation therapy for 30–40 min per day, three times per week for six weeks. Quality of life (QoL), functionality and balance variables were measured for both groups one week before and after the intervention. Data was generated based on patients’ responses using validated questionnaires and tests. A 2 (groups) × 2 (test-time) MANOVA was performed to detect between-group and within-group differences.

Results

Significant improvements were obtained in the experimental group in the mobility and balance variables, and in the global result of QoL.

Conclusions

The sailing simulation program, included as a therapy within the rehabilitation process after a SCI, provides participants with an overall increase in QoL and functionality.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILIATION

• Virtual reality is a therapy that can be part of the rehabilitation process of spinal cord injuries in the acute phase, improving functional capacity.

• The initiation to recreational sailing in a virtual way is a safe tool for the initiation to the practice of sports.

• The practice of a dynamic sport, such as sailing, helps to improve the quality of life in spinal cord injuries.

Keywords:

• Simulation
• disability
• adaptive sailing
• sports
• rehabilitation

Acknowledgments

The authors thank specially to the National Hospital of Paraplegics of Toledo (Spain), for its support to this project. We also gratefully to Dr. Talavera and José Miguel López, and all the subjects who participated in this research and made this project possible.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.