Realtime physical simulator for virtual reality sailing by patients with spinal cord injury: an innovative voyage.

Background: The aim of this study was to explore whether sail training using a VSail® simulator would allow people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) to learn to sail in a safe controlled environment and then sail competently on the water in wind of moderate strength (12 knots). A battery of physical tests and questionnaires was used to evaluate possible improvements in health and well-being as a consequence of participation in the trial.

Methods: Twenty participants were recruited with the assistance of their physicians from The International Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Kennedy Krieger Institute. Inclusion criteria were SCI >6 months previously, medically stable, with no recent (1 month or less) inpatient admission for acute medical or surgical issues. All neurological SCI levels (C1-S1) were eligible. All subjects followed a programme of instruction leading to mastery of basic sailing techniques (steering predetermined courses, sail trimming, tacking, gybing and mark rounding).

Results: Not all participants completed the study for various reasons. Those that did were seven males and six females, six with tetraplegia and seven with paraplegia. The mean age was 45 years (23 to 63) and the average time since injury was 14.7 years (2 to 38 years). At the end of the course subjects were able to perform the sailing maneuvers and navigate a triangular racecourse on the simulator's display in 12 knots of wind within a pre-set time. At 6 weeks post completion of training most subjects showed a decrease in depression, physical and social limitations, and an improvement in physical tests. These improvements were maintained or increased in most participants by 12 weeks, but not others.

Conclusions: The primary objective of the trial was achieved as all participants who completed the VSail® training were able to sail on the water at the Downtown Sailing Center in Baltimore.