Driving Rehabilitation for Military Personnel Recovering From Traumatic Brain Injury Using Virtual Reality Driving Simulation: A Feasibility Study

• Published in: Military medicine Vol. 175; no. 6; pp. 411 - 416
• Main Authors: Cox, Daniel J., Davis, Margaret, Singh, Harsimran, Barbour, Brent, Don Nidiffer, F., Trudel, Tina, Mourant, Ronald, Moncrief, Rick
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01.06.2010
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological - physiology; Adult; Automobile Driving - psychology; Brain Injuries - rehabilitation; Computer Simulation; Feasibility Studies; Humans; Male; Military Personnel; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0026-4075; 1930-613X
• DOI: 10.7205/MILMED-D-09-00081

To investigate the feasibility of virtual reality driving simulation rehabilitation training (VRDSRT) with military personnel recovering from traumatic brain injury (TBI). Eleven men with TBI were randomly assigned as controls (n = 5) receiving residential rehabilitation only or the VRDSRT group (n = 6) receiving residential rehabilitation and VRDSRT. All subjects underwent pre- and post-assessments including simulator driving, and completing road rage and risky driving questionnaires. Between assessments, VRDSRT subjects received 4-6, 60- to 90-min rehabilitation training sessions involving practicing progressively more complex driving skills (lane position, speed control, etc.) through progressively more demanding traffic. VRDSRT was well received, considered realistic and effective, with no reported simulation sickness. Driving performance improved significantly in the VRDSRT group only (p < 0.01). They also demonstrated a reduction in road rage (p = 0.01) and risky driving (p = 0.04) at post-assessment. VRDSRT showed promising results with respect to retraining driving performance and behavior among military personnel recovering from TBI.