The Investigation of the Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Applications in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis Patients

Overview

Osteoporosis is a progressive disease characterised by a decrease in bone mass, deterioration in bone microarchitecture, and increased fragility. Etiologically, it is divided into two types: primary (postmenopausal and senile) and secondary. Postmenopausal women are particularly at high risk; it is seen in more than 80% of women over the age of 50 and in almost all individuals over the age of 75. With menopause, bone mineral density decreases, which negatively affects neuromuscular functions, leading to balance disorders, decreased walking speed, and an increased risk of falls. Falls are the primary cause of osteoporotic fractures and result in functional loss, morbidity, mortality, and increased healthcare costs. Exercise is effective in reducing bone loss; in recent years, therapeutic virtual reality and exercise games (exergames) have come to the fore. However, the literature on the effectiveness of these applications in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients is limited. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of virtual reality applications on balance, quality of life, and fall risk and to compare them with a control group.

According to the World Health Organisation's definition, osteoporosis is characterised as a progressive disease involving a decrease in bone mass, deterioration in bone microarchitecture, and an increase in bone fragility. Osteoporosis is classified into two types based on aetiological factors: primary and secondary. Primary osteoporosis is subdivided into postmenopausal and senile osteoporosis, while the aetiology of secondary osteoporosis is unclear. Although osteoporosis can affect people of all ages, postmenopausal women are a particularly high-risk group for developing osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is seen in more than 80% of women over the age of 50 and in almost all women and men over the age of 75. Postmenopausal osteoporosis is the most common form of the disease. With the onset of menopause, a progressive decrease in bone mineral density is observed. This decrease in bone mineral density negatively affects the neuromuscular system. Neuromuscular dysfunction in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis leads to a decrease in the ability to stand, impaired dynamic balance, and an increased risk of falling due to a decrease in walking speed. Falls are a significant risk factor in the development of osteoporotic fractures. The occurrence of osteoporosis-related fractures can lead to a decrease in functional capacity, an increase in morbidity and mortality rates, and higher healthcare costs. Exercise has a positive effect on reducing bone mineral density loss. However, advances in technology have also increased the availability of video games for therapeutic purposes. Virtual reality or exergame applications that incorporate video games have become a new trend in response to the global challenges of ageing. However, there is limited literature investigating the effectiveness of virtual reality applications in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of virtual reality applications on balance, quality of life, and fall risk in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients and to compare them with a control group.