The aim of this study was to assess the impact of movement-based rehabilitation on the cognitive functions in orthopaedic patients and to compare the effectiveness of a conventional rehabilitation approach with a physiotherapy programme augmented by physical activity (PA) in a non-immersive virtual reality (nIVR).
A three-week movement-based intervention was conducted among 48 orthopaedic patients (mean age: 69.5±4.30 years; BMI: 28.87±4.67kg/m2) at the AccessMedica rehabilitation centre. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: Group I (n = 24) underwent a standard kinesitherapy programme (2 hours daily, 6 days per week), while Group II (n = 24) received the same standard therapy supplemented with three 30-minute PA sessions using interactive nIVR applications per week. Cognitive function was assessed using the Polish adaptation of the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination III (ACE-III), with version A administered prior to, and Version B following, the intervention.
A statistically significant increase in overall ACE-III scores was observed across the entire study group after completion of the rehabilitation program (p<.001, d=-0.51). Significant enhancements were noted in attention, (p=.001, rb=-0.74), and memory (p=0.03, rb=-0.40). However, comparative analysis revealed that a significant advancement in ACE-III occurred exclusively in the group with the nIVR-enhanced programme, (p=.004, d=-0.64). The most substantial improvement was found in the results of attention (p=.004, rb=-1.00).
Incorporating PA in nIVR setting into physiotherapy protocols may offer benefits not only for physical rehabilitation but also for the cognitive functioning of orthopaedic patients. It may be a valuable and holistic enhancement to standard therapeutic practices in clinical rehabilitation settings.