Introduction: With the growing accessibility of computer-assisted technology, rehabilitation programs for individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) increasingly use virtual reality (VR) environments to enhance motor practice. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of virtual reality exercise on selective reaction time in children with cerebral palsy.
Methodology: Twenty boys ranging from 7 to 12 years (mean age 11.20; SD =.76) were randomly divided into the experimental and control groups. Participants in the experimental group took part in the Virtual Reality (VR) program but control group participants continued their traditional therapy program. RT – 888 Automatic Reaction Time Device was used to measure Selective Reaction Time (SRT) in children with cerebral palsy. The validity of RT device (made by Sina Research Institute) has been appropriately reported by experts. Concurrent validity method showed a correlation of 0.7 with YAGAMI YB– 1000 reaction time device (made in Japan). Xbox 360 Kinect (Microsoft, New York, United State) was used as a therapeutic devise for virtual reality intervention. Paired sample t test and independent sample t test were used using SPSS software version 18 at p <0.05 level.
Results: Based on the results of paired sample t test, virtual reality interventions resulted in significant progress in the experimental group (t=5.206; df = 9; p=0.001). Also, results of independent sample t test showed that although a significant difference was no observed in selective reaction time between the experimental and control groups during the pre-test phase (t=0.128; df=18; p=0.899); virtual reality interventions reduced selective reaction time of experimental group in the post-test phase (t=2.583; df=18; p=0.019).
Discussion: These results are in agreement with the findings of Gordon. In CP children. VR seems to be a promising tool to be incorporated into the rehabilitation process of CP. Using VR as an educational and therapeutic tool would allow instructors and therapists to offer both flexibility and control when administering treatments, increasing the probability of skill transfer, and ensuring safety during learning.