Investigation of the effects of virtual reality on physiotherapy and rehabilitation outcomes on individuals with transtibial amputation

The aim of this study is to compare the effects of virtual reality applications on weight transfer, quality of life, kinesophobia, performance, balance, prosthesis adaptation, depression and gait parameters in individuals with transtibial amputation. 20 TT amputee with 36.42 ± 7.63 mean age were included in our study. All participants were using transtibial prothesis with active vacuum system at least 1 year. Participants were divided into two groups. While a group of virtual reality applications were being performed, standard physiotherapy methods were applied in the second group. Balance, weight tranfer and gait practices were performed for each group. Her iki gruba da denge, ağırlık aktarma ve yürüyüş üzerine aktiviteler uygulandı. Individuals were treated for 3 days a week for 4 weeks, and individuals were evaluated before and after treatment. Individuals were evaluated for weight transfer, quality of life, kinesiophobia, performance, balance, prosthesis adaptation, depression status and time-distance parameters of walking. For this purpose, LASAR Posture Device, SF-36 Questionnaire, Tampa Scale, 6-minute walking test, one leg rest time, Beck Depression Scale, Trinity Amputation and Prosthetic Experience Scale, wearable biometric device and footprint method were utilized. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in pre-treatment and post-treatment heavy transfer, kinesophobia, performance, balance, depression levels and gait parameters in the groups of individuals (p <0.05). The quality of life pain parameter was statistically decline in the group receiving SG (p<0.05). On the other hand, significant differences in the quality of life and prosthesis adaptation of the individuals were not found between the groups (p> 0.05). The results of this study showed that virtual reality practices and standard physiotherapy methods are effective on positive transfer of weight, kinesophobia, performance, balance, depression and walking in transtibial amputee rehabilitation. It is thought that it will be important to perform virtual reality applications in amputee rehabilitation separately in both methods, in addition to standard physiotherapy methods, to include in rehabilitation process, to bring a different viewpoint to professionals working in this area and to work on amputees using different suspension systems with different amputation levels.