Background
Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System invested in a Bertec Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP) platform with an integrated virtual reality module to treat patients experiencing balance and vestibular disorders. The system, deployed at the Oncology Rehabilitation Services department within Gibbs Cancer Center - Pelham in Greer, South Carolina, addresses a wide range of conditions including BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), stroke, concussion, amputation, chemotherapy-related neuropathy, diabetic neuropathy, and other neurological conditions.
The deployment
The Bertec VR system places patients on a force-plate platform with a harness for safety while presenting immersive virtual environments via a large visual display. Therapists program environments such as parks, boardwalks, busy sidewalks, and grocery stores, which are among the most challenging settings for people with vestibular dysfunction. By controlling the visual stimuli, therapists can introduce precise visual conflicts to train patients to rely less on inaccurate visual cues and more on other sensory inputs for balance.
Physical therapist Amy Muncy leads the vestibular rehabilitation programme at Gibbs Cancer Center - Pelham. She explained that the system allows therapists to measure the reliability of a patient's vision, proprioception, and inner-ear function, then design an individualised treatment plan targeting specific deficits.
Outcomes
One documented patient, Lisa McCully, had lived with severe BPPV for ten years. Multiple falls had resulted in a lacerated eye, a broken nose, two concussions, and significant anxiety around daily movement. After approximately three months of VR-based vestibular therapy at Gibbs Cancer Center - Pelham, McCully reported near-normal function for the first time since her diagnosis. She subsequently returned to horse riding, an activity she had been unable to pursue for three years.
The therapy also provides structured preparation for real-world hazard scenarios, such as stepping onto an unsecured rug or encountering an uneven pavement surface, giving patients strategies to manage vestibular episodes safely in everyday life.
