Virtual Reality Training on Bone Mineral Density in Post Thyroidectomy Patients, Randomized Controlled Trial

Abouelnaga, Walid; Alsharidah, Ashwag S.; Aloraini, Saleh M.; Aboelnour, Nancy H.

doi:10.21608/ejptr.2025.354616.1016

Virtual Reality Training on Bone Mineral Density in Post Thyroidectomy Patients, Randomized Controlled Trial

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Aqaba University of Technology, Jordan. Department of Physical Therapy for Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt.

² Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah, Qassim, Saudi Arabia.

³ Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, P.O. Box 6666, Saudi Arabia.

10.21608/ejptr.2025.354616.1016

Abstract

Purpose: This trial's primary goal was to evaluate the effects of virtual reality (VR) training on post-thyroidectomy patients' bone mineral density (BMD).
Materials and Methods: Sixty subjects with affected BMD postthyroidectomy engaged in the experiment. At random, participants were split evenly into two groups. All participants within the experiment were treated with traditional osteoporotic care including calcium intake (vitamin D calcium chewable tablets containing 100 IU of Vit D, 200 IU/day) and were instructed for regular walking outdoors every day for 30 min, in addition the experimental group (VR group) received virtual reality training. The training program lasted for three months and consisted of three sessions a week of 50 minutes each. Hip and lumbar spine T score and BMD were calculated through Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Evaluation information was documented for all subjects before the experiment and at the 12th week of therapy.
Results: While BMD improved for all subjects (p < 0.001), the VR group showed the greatest statistical increase, as the VR group's BMD of the lumbar spine (ES = 0.95), BMD of the hip joint (ES = 1.19), T score of the lumbar spine (ES = 0.82), and T score of the hip joint (ES = 0.78) recorded higher results than the controlled group when the groups were compared after treatment (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Adding VR training in rehabilitation program for post thyroidectomy osteoporotic cases have significant benefits in BMD.

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