● Virtual reality-based exercises have the ability to improve static and dynamic balance and performance of athletes with functional ankle sprains.
Plain Language Summary
People who suffer from recurrent ankle sprains are said to have ankle instability. Finding a solution to this problem seems necessary. Thirty semi-amateur athletes present in the leagues of Tehran Province from the volleyball, basketball, football, and futsal leagues were randomly selected according to the selection and exclusion criteria and were divided into a control group and an experimental group (exercises based on virtual reality). The experimental group performed virtual reality-based exercises for 8 weeks and 3 sessions per week, under the supervision of the researcher. According to the results of this study, virtual reality-based exercises have a significant effect on static and dynamic balance and performance of athletes, and these exercises can be used to improve static and dynamic balance, as well as the performance of basketball, volleyball, football and futsal players. The use of virtual reality and games is one of the new ways to use technology in order to rehabilitate people with balance disorders and postural control, which in addition to providing rehabilitation facilities and required movement and functional activities, these facilities in the environment provides a home and eliminates the need for them to go to the relevant clinics. The attractiveness and novelty of these exercises make athletes and coaches more willing to use these exercises than traditional exercises.