A Case Study on the Effects of Pelvic Exercise Using Virtual Reality on Balance and Gait of an Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury Patient

This study aimed to determine the effects of pelvic exercise using virtual reality on the balance and gait of an incomplete spinal cord injury patient.

A pelvic exercise program using virtual reality of three sessions a week, 30 minutes per session, for 12 weeks was run for a 62-year-old man diagnosed with incomplete spinal cord injury (ASIA D) caused by a fall. A balanced performance instrument (BT4) was used to evaluate balance and a wireless motion analyzer (iSEN) was used to evaluate gait; comparative analysis was made initially and 6 weeks and 12 weeks later.

Both the dynamic balance assessment and the static balance assessment showed positive changes for each time segment. The gait assessment found positive changes in each time segment.

This study has confirmed that pelvic exercise using virtual reality is effective for improving balance and gait of an incomplete spinal cord injury patient.