The effect of different visual stimuli provided by virtual reality on postural control in HEALTHY subject

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the real environment image reflected in the virtual reality environment and the positive and negative feedbacks added to it on postural control. 20 healthy young people (F/M 10/10) aged between 18-30 years were included in the study. The visual stimuli in the virtual reality (VR) environment used in the study were created after modeling the laboratory environment where the study would take place and transforming this model three-dimensional (3D) with the Unity program. Participants were evaluated in a state of static balance in terms of the svay velocity, sway area and perimeter variables of the center of pressure (CoP) using Prokin PK 252 balance device under 5 different conditions: eyes open (EO), eyes closed (EC) and three VR images: laboratory environment image (VRL), positive (VRLP) and negative (VRLN) visual feedback added to this image. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using the SPSS analysis program using arithmetic mean, standard deviation, repeated ANOVA and Bonferroni method in multiple comparisons. CoP, Sway velocity, Sway area and Perimeter obtained as a result of five different visual stimuli (EO, EC, VRL, VRLP, VRLN) were compared. There was no significant difference between conditions in terms of the distance of the participants' average CoP values to the center (p>0,05). Although the Sway velocity was significantly lower in the EO condition (p<0,05), there was no significant difference between all other conditions in terms of sway velocity (p>0,05). The sway area and perimeter obtained at the EO were significantly decreased (p <0,05) and also the perimeter ah the EC were significantly increase (p<0.05). Although it was observed that the sway area in the EC was increased than the LVR, there was no significant difference (p> 0,05). It was found that the sway velocity, sway area and perimeter variables increased significantly in the VR compared to the EO, however this increase was less than the EC. In addition, it was observed that there was no significant difference between the visual feedback added to the VR environment(p>0,05).