Effects of kinect-based virtual reality training on bone mineral density and fracture risk in postmenopausal women with osteopenia: a randomized controlled trial

Osteopenia is a condition characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD) that increases fracture risk, particularly among postmenopausal women (PMW). This study aimed to determine the effects of Kinect-based VRT on BMD and fracture risk in PMW with osteopenia. The study was a prospective, two-arm, parallel-design, randomized controlled trial. The study enrolled 52 participants, 26 randomly assigned to each group. In the experimental group, Kinect-based VRT was provided thrice weekly for 24 weeks for 45 min/session. Both groups were instructed to engage in a daily 30-min walk outdoors. The fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX) was used to calculate fracture risk, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure lumbar spine and femur neck BMD. Both variables were assessed at baseline and 24 weeks afterwards. After 24 weeks of Kinect-based VRT, the experimental group showed significant BMD increases in the right and left femoral necks and lumbar spine (p value < 0.001). In the control group, the BMD at the right and left femoral necks showed fewer significant changes (p value < 0.022 and 0.004, respectively). In the control group, lumbar spine BMD did not change (p = 0.57). The experimental group showed significantly lower FRAX scores for hip fracture prediction (HFP) and hip prediction of major osteoporotic (HPMO) at both femoral necks (p value < 0.001) than the control group (p = 0.05 and p = 0.01, respectively), but no significant change at the left femoral neck for HFP (p = 0.66) or HPMO (p = 0.26). These findings indicate that a Kinect-based VRT intervention resulted in significantly increased BMD and a reduced fracture risk, as predicted by HFP and HPMO measurements. These improvements were more pronounced in the experimental group than in the control group. Thus, Kinect-based VRT may be utilized as an effective intervention to improve BMD and reduce fracture risk in postmenopausal women with osteopenia.