Fall Prevention and Standing Balance Using OmniVR

According to the CDC, over 14 million (1 in 4) older adults report falling each year.* Falls lead to injury, disability, and death. Fall risk screening and treatment approaches are essential in decreasing falls in this population. There are many potential factors associated with one’s risk of falls, including weakness, impaired balance, and abnormal gait.

Virtual reality is an interactive and effective treatment approach that may be used to address these impairments and has repeatedly been shown to increase patient participation and reduce fall risk. The OmniVR® Virtual Rehabilitation System incorporates exercise/activity focusing on upper and lower extremity strength, sitting balance, sit-to-stand, standing balance, gait, wheelchair mobility, and cognition.

Several OmniVR exercises/activities can be directly used in treatment of standing balance deficits. They address dynamic standing balance, core stability, posture, trunk rotation, weight shifting, multidirectional gait, and dual task activity.

Standing Balance Dual Task Activities

Core Stability and Posture with Upper Extremity Movement

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Trunk Rotation with Upper Extremity Movement

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Weight Shifting with Trunk Movement (lateral or forward/backward)

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Foot Placement, Multidirectional Gait, and Obstacle Avoidance

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Cognition

The OmniVR Virtual Rehabilitation System has many different standing balance activities with customizable parameters to meet your patients’ needs and achieve optimal individualized outcomes.

Author:
Andreé Akst, PT, MPT, CEEAA, NASM-CES, Clinical Services Content Specialist

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*Source: https://www.cdc.gov/falls/data/index.html