Non-Immersive Virtual Reality Telerehabilitation System Improves Postural Balance in People with Chronic Neurological Diseases

Abstract

Background: People with chronic neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS), often present postural disorders and a high risk of falling. When difficulties in achieving outpatient rehabilitation services occur, a solution to guarantee the continuity of care may be telerehabilitation. This study intends to expand the scope of our previously published research on the impact of telerehabilitation on quality of life in an MS sample, testing the impact of this type of intervention in a larger sample of neurological patients also including PD individuals on postural balance. Methods: We included 60 participants with MS and 72 with PD. All enrolled subjects were randomized into two groups: 65 in the intervention group and 67 in the control group. Both treatments lasted 30–40 sessions (5 days/week, 6–8 weeks). Motor, cognitive, and participation outcomes were registered before and after the treatments. Results: All participants improved the outcomes at the end of the treatments. The study’s primary outcome (Mini-BESTest) registered a greater significant improvement in the telerehabilitation group than in the control group. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that non-immersive virtual reality telerehabilitation is well tolerated and positively affects static and dynamic balance and gait in people with PD and MS.