EFFECTIVENESS OF VIRTUAL REALITY ON FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME IN MEDIAN NERVE INJURED PATIENTS

Objectives: Injuries to the median nerve, frequently caused by trauma or repetitive strain, may result in significant functional limitations, motor and sensory deficits. Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly recognized in neurological rehabilitation, but there is limited information in the literature regarding this topic. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of VR treatments on functional outcomes in patients with median nerve injuries. Methods: In an experimental study, 40 median nerve injury patients were split into two categories according to inclusion and exclusion standards by simple random sampling method in a private setting. The conventional rehabilitation (CR) was administered in Group 1 (n=20), while the VR therapy in Group 2 (n=20). As outcome measures, Hand Held Dynamometer (HHD) and the Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT) scale were used. Results: VR therapy and CR demonstrated enhancements in functional results for people with median nerve injuries, but the post-test results in Group 2 showed a greater mean in HHD (17.85) than in Group 1 (13.10). The average difference in the NHPT was 35.95 for Group 1 and 21.25 for Group 2, suggesting that VR enhances functional results. Conclusion: VR therapy and CR showed statistically significant improvements in the functional outcomes of patients with median nerve injuries, whereas VR therapy demonstrated greater enhancement of motor skills. This evidence supports VR therapy as a feasible option to conventional approaches.