Modulating the internal model of verticality by virtual reality and body-weight support walking: A pilot study

Being immersed in a tilted environment induces a powerful bias in verticality perception (11°). Contrary to our hypothesis, BWSW did not attenuate the effect induced by the VTR, probably because of the power of this effect. However, BWSW was the only postural condition able to suppress post-effects induced by the VTR, thereby leading to the head and VV oriented upright. BWSW may improve verticality representation, presumably by bringing augmented information about the direction of the Earth vertical. These findings represent an avenue for rehabilitation of patients with postural disorders caused by a wrong verticality representation. Technological improvements will be necessary to attenuate the virtual reality discomfort.