Vestibular rehabilitation is a treatment that, through exercise, promotes vestibular compensation and provides replacement of sensory input and habituation of the motion or situation that causes dizziness, which enhances postural and movement stability, reduces fall risk, and improves associated anxiety and depression. The recently developed customized vestibular rehabilitation therapy provides treatment by combining various exercises depending on the symptoms and conditions of the patient.

Virtual reality (VR) is an interface between humans and computers, which includes real-time simulation and interaction through various sensory channels, such as vision, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. The extent of the use of VR varies widely, and recent studies have applied VR technologies in the medical field, including anatomy, three-dimensional patient modeling, virtual surgery, and rehabilitation. Rehabilitation systems using VR technologies have been studied and developed recently. In combination with wearable computers, VR can have a wide variety of applications. Further, by applying content such as games to continuously motivate patients to undergo rehabilitation and by making the treatment enjoyable and engaging, the effectiveness can be increased. Currently, studies combining rehabilitation with VR are underway.

Studies have been conducted on the use of VR to enhance the efficiency of vestibular rehabilitation. Previously, a balance rehabilitation unit, force platform, and Nintendo Wii Fit were used, but recently, immersive equipment using the head-mount display (HMD) has been developed. Rosiak et al. [2] showed that motion trackers and force-plate platforms, which are referred to as hybrid VR units, were effective for subjective reduction of symptoms in patients with peripheral vestibular dysfunction. Micarelli et al. [3] showed that the home-based VR protocol using HMD can be a safe option to improve vestibular ocular reflex, postural control, and quality of life in patients with vestibular impairment in whom cognitive decline could hinder rehabilitation. Furthermore, Park et al. [4] showed that the VR device combined with eye trackers and HMD can improve goal-oriented attention and activation of brain networks while providing vestibular rehabilitation.

These VR devices employ games, unlike conventional equipment, which are enjoyable, increase concentration, and result in continuing treatment by the patient. Moreover, stimulating multiple senses simultaneously could increase the effectiveness of rehabilitation and help treat patients with visual vertigo. Early models of VR devices could not be commercialized because of expensive equipment and large locations, but recently, training using relatively inexpensive and simple equipment, such as HMD, seemed effective, which is likely to be more practical in the future and provide great help to full-scale rehabilitation.