Hwang Na-Kyoung, Choi Jong-Bae, Choi Dae-Kil, Park Jae-Min, Hong Chang-Wan, Park Ji-Su, Yoon Tae-Hyung
Department of Occupational Therapy, Seoul North Municipal Hospital, 38 Yangwonyeokro, Seoul 02062, Korea.
Department of Occupational Therapy, Sangji University, 83 Sangjidae-gil, Wonju-si 26339, Korea.
Healthcare (Basel). 2021 Jun 28;9(7):814. doi: 10.3390/healthcare9070814.
This study aimed to investigate the effects of semi-immersive virtual reality-based cognitive training (VRCT) combined with locomotor activity on cognitive function, balance, and gait ability in older adults. Eighteen community-dwelling older adults participated in this study. Subjects who met the selection criteria were assigned to an experimental group ( = 9) and a control group ( = 9). The experimental group received VRCT combined with locomotor activity for 30 min a day, three times a week, for 6 weeks. The control group received tabletop activity-based cognitive training for the same amount of time. Before and after the training, the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE), Trail Making Test (TMT; A and B), and Digit Span Test (DST; forward and backward) were used to evaluate cognitive function; and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and 10-m Walking Test (10MWT) were used to evaluate the improvement in the balance and gait ability parameters. After the intervention, the experimental group showed a significantly greater improvement in the TMT-A ( = 0.045) and DST-backward ( = 0.012) scores compared with the control group. Regarding the gait ability variable, the experimental group showed a significant improvement in the 10MWT test ( = 0.001). This study confirmed that semi-immersive VRCT combined with locomotor activity is useful for improving cognitive function and gait ability in older adults. Therefore, VRCT combined with locomotor activity can be used as a simultaneous intervention for cognitive rehabilitation and functional capacity improvement in older adults.
本研究旨在探讨基于半沉浸式虚拟现实的认知训练(VRCT)结合运动活动对老年人认知功能、平衡能力和步态能力的影响。18名居住在社区的老年人参与了本研究。符合入选标准的受试者被分为实验组(n = 9)和对照组(n = 9)。实验组每天接受30分钟的VRCT结合运动活动,每周三次,共6周。对照组接受相同时间的桌面活动式认知训练。在训练前后,使用韩国简易精神状态检查表(K-MMSE)、连线测验(TMT;A和B)和数字广度测验(DST;顺背和倒背)来评估认知功能;使用定时起立行走测试(TUG)和10米步行测试(10MWT)来评估平衡和步态能力参数的改善情况。干预后,与对照组相比,实验组在TMT-A(p = 0.045)和DST倒背(p = 0.012)得分上有显著更大的改善。关于步态能力变量,实验组在10MWT测试中显示出显著改善(p = 0.001)。本研究证实,半沉浸式VRCT结合运动活动有助于改善老年人的认知功能和步态能力。因此,VRCT结合运动活动可作为老年人认知康复和功能能力改善的同步干预措施。