Virtual Reality Training for Walking Improvement in the Elderly

Safe walking needs the older adult to anticipate and respond quickly to external demands and sudden environmental changes. The practice of complex and challenging situations of the usual daily walking is very important to prevent balance loss and falls in the elderly.

Researchers reported that subjects trained in a virtual environment with enhanced feedback performed walking skills better than those trained with conventional methods. The C-Mill treadmill is an innovative device that was recently used for the training of impaired gait and balance. C-Mill treadmill uses virtual reality, augmented feedback, and force plate technology that provides the best solution for efficient functional movement therapy. Therefore, this study will evaluate the efficacy of gait training with a virtual reality treadmill on walking abilities in elderly people.

Many studies have shown that walking exercises effectively contribute to enhancing walking performance in the elderly. Several studies have shown that treadmill training is effective in improving the elderly person's ability to walk. Therefore, the practice of complex and challenging situations of the usual daily walking is very important to improve walking. Unfortunately, older adults have few opportunities to practice safe walking well and consistently in a task-specific manner.

There are many studies that have shown that gait training in a challenging environment, such as walking on a treadmill, is more effective in improving the elderly person's ability to walk properly, compared to the traditional training exercise regimen that relies on training in closed training environment free from challenges and obstacles.

Virtual reality technology is one of the advanced technologies used in physical therapy and rehabilitation. This technology contributes to creating an interactive environment for the trainees that enables them to integrate into the training process and encourages them to perform controlled motor tasks. C-Mill treadmill applies a virtual reality environment, dual-tasking exercises, obstacle avoidance games, and a variety of gait challenges in a safe and controlled environment to increase walking adaptability and improve performance in everyday life. Many studies found that the C-Mill treadmill is effective in improving gait performance and adaptability in clinical practice Therefore, this study will compare the efficacy of gait training with a virtual reality treadmill and the conventional physical therapy program on walking abilities in elderly people.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

40 healthy older adults, both sexes, will participate in this study. Their ages will be between 65 to 75 years. They should have stable medical status based on a confirmed written medical report signed by their physicians. All participants should not receive other training to improve their balance and gait during the duration of the study application except through this study training program.

Exclusion Criteria:

The exclusion criteria will include any participant with:

* a cognitive reduction (\< 23 points based on the Mini-Mental State Examination scale;
* muscle paralysis,
* ﬁxed lower limb bony deformities,
* balance deficits,
* visual problems,
* diabetes mellitus,
* polyneuropathy,
* gait disorders,
* using assistive walking devices during walking,
* vertigo, anti-seizures drug use and hypertension,
* vestibular and cerebellar problems; and
* auditory and perceptual diseases/impairments