• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.891-895
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• 2015

We investigated the effects of a Virtual reality(VR) program on the proprioception and instability of functional ankle instability(FAI) patients. Among the 20s old individuals who lived in Republic of Korea; 20 people were selected through a public participation process. The 20 participants were then randomly divided into two groups, one of strength exercise(n=10) and one of balance exercise(n=10). Of the patients who had experienced an ankle sprain in the past and currently felt ankle instability, those who recorded 24 points or less on the Cumberland ankle instability tool(CAIT) were determined to have FAI. We selected the strength exercise and balance exercise in the Nintendo Wii Fit Plus as a VR program. The subjects used the program on the Wii Balance Board three times per week for 20 minutes and total 10-minute warm-up and down for four weeks. Proprioception and CAIT of the balance exercise group were improved significantly after the exercise compared to before the exercise(p<.05). Authors recommend that the balance exercise in the VR program be used as an aid for physical therapeutic intervention.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.63-70
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• 2017

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the virtual reality exercise program on ankle balance with ankle taping or microwave. Methods : This study was performed on 18 subjects. Eighteen subjects were divided into two groups; conducted virtual reality exercises with taping (n=9), and performed virtual reality exercises after microwave application (n=9). Both groups performed the exercise three times a week for four weeks. The data was analyzed by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for comparing before and after changes of factors in each group and performed the Mann-Whitney test for comparing groups. Result : Taping and microwave groups were increased dynamic balance after virtual reality exercises (p<.05). There was no significant difference in balance after applying taping and microwave for virtual reality exercises (p<.05). Conclusion : Reducing the frequency of recurrent ankle sprain in functional ankle subjects, it is recommended to perform virtual reality exercise after applying taping and microwave.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.292-297
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• 2020

Background: Ankle sprain is one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries in the sports population or during usual daily life activities. The sprain can cause functional ankle instability (FAI), and it is very important to treat FAI. However, the optimum intervention method for FAI has yet to be determined. Objects: This study investigated the impact that virtual reality (VR) training program on balance with ankle kinesio taping for FAI. Methods: Twenty-two people were selected for the study and randomly divided into the experimental (n = 11) and the control group (n = 11). The experimental group had attached kinesio taping on the ankle and then implemented a virtual reality exercise program for 30 minutes a day. Nintendo Wii Fit Plus was used for the VR intervention three times a week for four weeks. The control group performed only two measurements without intervention. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in overall, anterior-posterior (AP), medial-lateral (ML) index of the static balance, and significant differences in overall, AP, ML index of the dynamic balance when taping and VR exercise were applied at the same time (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in overall and ML index of static and dynamic balance compared with before and after assessment between the experimental and the control group, and found differences in AP index of static and dynamic balance (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Kinesio taping may not influence the balance of FAI as great as people expected. VR approach does not affect the static balance of FAI, but it influences dynamic balance in overall, AP, ML index. The authors suggest that VR-based exercises can be used as an additional concept in clinicians for FAI or as part of a home program because the exercises still have limitations.