Semi-immersive virtual reality protocol assessing gait and balance in remote concussion.

PURPOSE: This proof-of-concept study evaluated the effectiveness of a novel semi-immersive virtual reality dual-task protocol in identifying lingering postural control deficits in individuals with a remote history of concussion. Study aimed to examine how dual-tasking - specifically, centred and peripheral vision Stroop tasks - affects postural sway during standing and walking in previously concussed individuals and healthy controls. METHODS: The virtual reality system integrated motion capture and force plate technology to create an ecologically realistic environment, enabling more realistic task performance. A divided attention task incorporating centred and peripheral visual stimuli was administered during standing and walking conditions. Task performance was compared between healthy controls and individuals with a documented history of concussion. Statistical analyses included independent-samples t-tests, MANOVA, and Cohen's d for significant effects. RESULTS: = 1.06). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that semi-immersive virtual reality dual-task assessments, particularly those involving peripheral visual demands, may detect subtle post-concussion deficits often missed by standard evaluations. This highlights the potential of virtual reality based assistive technology tools to inform more personalised interventions. Such approaches may ultimately improve long-term outcomes and quality of life through more ecologically realistic, real-world assessments.