Do the Physical Characteristics of a Virtual Reality Device Contraindicate Its Use for Balance Assessment?

Abstract

Context:Virtual reality environments may allow researchers to investigate functional balance performance without risks associated with testing in the real world.Objective:To investigate the effects of the mass of a head-mounted display (HMD) on balance performance.Design:Counterbalanced pretest-posttest.Setting:Virtual reality laboratory.Participants:20 healthy college students.Intervention(s):Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) with a tracker-only headband and again with tracker plus HMD was performed.Main Outcome Measures:BESS error scores, elliptical sway area, and center of pressure travel distance were recorded.Results:No effect of the HMD mass on balance performance was observed. A significant stance by surface interaction was present but was negated when the HMD conditions were included in the model.Conclusions:The mass of a HMD has not been proven to adversely affect balance performance. These data suggest the HMD mass is not a contraindication to the use of immersive virtual environments in future concussion research involving balance.