Abstract #21790, Date "Monday, Feb 5 2001 1:00PM - 12:00PM " Session L14 Vestibular II - Clinical

Virtual reality as a rehabilitation tool for persons with vestibular disorders-preliminary findings

Susan L. WHITNEY , Joseph M. FURMAN , Mark S. REDFERN , Patrick J. SPARTO , Jeffrey JACOBSON , Larry F. HODGES

"The use of medical virtual reality (VR) for rehabilitation of persons with balance disorders is a new concept. The Balance Near Automatic Virtual Environment (BNAVE) at the University of Pittsburgh is a sophisticated PC-based visual display booth, has been created to assess and retrain balance in persons with vestibular disorders. The purpose of this study was to develop the appropriate software and hardware necessary to perform pre-clinical trials in persons without disease, and then to determine tolerance, treatment methodologies, and appropriate measures to adequately assess the efficacy of VR as a rehabilitative tool. Subjects between the ages of 21-89 were eligible for inclusion. All subjects were screened for neurologic and orthopedic disorders. No subject had a significant history of motion sickness. Each subject was exposed to a primitive checkerboard scene in the BNAVE and several parameters were manipulated including the apparent size of the scene, the brightness, the complexity/spatial frequency, and the movement of the scene. During exposure to each of the scenes, heart rate, subjective units of discomfort, postural sway, facial expression, and eye/head position are monitored. Before and after exposure, postural sway, blood pressure, the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire, gait speed and the Dynamic Gait Index are assessed. Preliminary data will be presented related to the tolerance of subjects to the BNAVE. Supported by the Eye and Ear Foundation of Pittsburgh. "