A Study on the Effects of Experiencing a Falling Situation in Virtual Reality on EEG and Heart Rate Variability in the Elderly

With the rapid aging of the Japanese population, the number of elderly people who fall over is increasing. Falls, including femoral neck fractures, constitute a significant cause of injuries in the elderly, leading to the primary need for nursing care. Hence, fall prevention and rehabilitation are expected to become increasingly important in the future, requiring active introduction of new technologies. The fear of falling can be a genuine concern often associated with the apprehension of the actual act of falling. This fear encompasses anxiety of experiencing a subsequent fall, even in the absence of resulting fractures or other injuries. This study aimed to comprehend the mechanism of fear of falling and contribute to the development of rehabilitation for this syndrome by assessing the effects of experiencing a fall on the EEG and HRV in elderly subjects through a virtual reality (VR) experience.