Virtual Reality Training on Balance, Postural Stability, Mobility and Quality of Life in Obese Patients

Virtual reality balance training will be completed using the BRU system's preloaded programs for postural training and rehabilitation. Rehabilitation exercises will include tasks performed standing with virtual reality headset on whereby the visual and vestibular systems will be stressed and will be customized according to the participant's needs and ability to tolerate the training stimulus. Postural training exercises will be used to develop limits of stability, with 3 exercises performed requiring participants to move their center of mass to collect rings/blocks through a course within a given amount of time. Each of the 3 postural training exercises contained 15 levels of varying difficulty. Sessions will be tailored to everyone, with progression of increasing the level of difficulty or time of exposure for each exercise. Participants at this group will be also participate in a Balance exercise training program for 40 min/3 times per week for 8 weeks.

Each session of balance exercises will be composed of three phases, including warm-up, balance training and cool down. The warm-up phase will involve gentle stretching for calf, hamstring, quadriceps, iliopsoas muscles, as well as anterior, posterior and lateral step-ups for 5-10 minutes. The active phase will be performed on a balance training for 20 minutes. It included heel and toe raises, one-legged stance for each extremity, shifting weight anteriorly, posteriorly, laterally and diagonally, step-ups, narrow walking, backward walking, sideward walking, stepping over obstacles, passing balls arranged on the training mat in a circle, and throwing and catching a ball on the training mat. A rest period of 1 minute will be given between each component. The program will be ended with 5-10 minutes of cool down. During the cool-down phase, patients will perform deep breathing exercises and static exercises for back extensors in a recumbent position.