Abstract

Objective: To determine the effect of conventional versus virtual reality based vestibular rehabilitation through Kinect Mira software in young adults with unilateral peripheral vestibular hypo-function.
Methodology: This randomized control trial included 60 young adults with unilateral peripheral vestibular hypo-function; randomly divided as 30 in control group and 30 in experimental group. Study was conducted at Armed Forces Institute of Rehab Medicine, Rawalpindi, Pakistan using Non- probability purposive sampling technique. Exclusion criteria was patients with bilateral vestibular hypo-function, CNS involvement or fluctuating vestibular symptoms. Control group received Cawthorn Cooksey vestibular exercises and experimental group received virtual reality based Exer-gamming with Kinect Mira software. Data were analyzed through SPSS 20.
Results: Mean of all three components (physical, emotional and functional) of Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) of control and experimental group was 9.26±3.65, 6.80±3.50 and 7.86±3.18 and 4.20±2.94, 3.86±3.96 and 5.06±4.41, respectively with mild to moderate significant difference. Mean of balance measured on ABC scale of control and experimental group was 82.19±10.19 and 85.63±7.1, respectively. Gait was measured through Dynamic Gait index scale and its mean of control and experimental group was 17.53±15.14 and 19.00±2.54 with no significant difference.
Conclusion: Virtual reality exercise performed through Kinect Mira evaluation by software was equally effective to conventional rehabilitation therapy. There was no significant difference between both groups. But participants showed more adherence to virtual reality based exercise.

Key words: Balance, gait, vestibular hypo-function.