Article

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of virtual reality (VR) rehabilitation on
upper extremity motor performance of patients with early stroke. DESIGN: Pilot
randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Rehabilitation wards. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty
three adults with stroke (mean age (SD) = 58.35 (13.45) years and mean time since
stroke (SD) = 16.30 (7.44) days). INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomly
assigned to VR group (n=11) or control group (n=12).
VR group received nine 30
minutes upper extremity VR therapy in standing (five weekdays in two weeks) plus
conventional therapy, which included physical and occupational therapy. Control
group received only conventional therapy, which was comparable to total training
time received by VR group (mean training hours (SD):VR = 17.07 (2.86); control =
15.50 (2.79)). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measure was the Fugl-Meyer
Assessment (FMA). Secondary outcomes included Action Research Arm Test, Motor
Activity Log and Functional Independence Measure. Results were taken at baseline,
post intervention and 1-month post intervention. Participants' feedback and
adverse effects were recorded. RESULTS: All participants improved in FMA scores
(mean change (SD) = 11.65 (8.56), P<.001). These effects were sustained at one
month after intervention (mean (SD) change from baseline = 18.67 (13.26),
P<.001). All other outcome measures showed similar patterns. There were no
significant differences in improvement between both groups. Majority of the
participants found VR training useful and enjoyable, with no serious adverse
effects reported. CONCLUSION: Although additional VR training was not superior to
conventional therapy alone, this study demonstrates the feasibility of VR
training in early stroke.
CI - (c) The Author(s) 2014.

Langue : ANGLAIS