Article

New rehabilitation strategies for post-stroke upper limb rehabilitation
employing visual stimulation show promising results, however, cost-efficient and
clinically feasible ways to provide these interventions are still lacking. An
integral step is to translate recent technological advances, such as in virtual
and augmented reality, into therapeutic practice to improve outcomes for
patients. This requires research on the adaptation of the technology for clinical
use as well as on the appropriate guidelines and protocols for sustainable
integration into therapeutic routines. Here, we present and evaluate a novel and
affordable augmented reality system (Augmented Reflection Technology, ART) in
combination with a validated mirror therapy protocol for upper limb
rehabilitation after stroke. METHOD: We evaluated components of the therapeutic
intervention, from the patients' and the therapists' points of view in a clinical
feasibility study at a rehabilitation centre. We also assessed the integration of
ART as an adjunct therapy for the clinical rehabilitation of subacute patients at
two different hospitals. RESULTS: The results showed that the combination and
application of the Berlin Protocol for Mirror Therapy together with ART was
feasible for clinical use. This combination was integrated into the therapeutic
plan of subacute stroke patients at the two clinical locations where the second
part of this research was conducted. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings pave the way for
using technology to provide mirror therapy in clinical settings and show
potential for the more effective use of inpatient time and enhanced recoveries
for patients. Implications for Rehabilitation Computerised Mirror Therapy is
feasible for clinical use Augmented Reflection Technology can be integrated as an
adjunctive therapeutic intervention for subacute stroke patients in an inpatient
setting Virtual Rehabilitation devices such as Augmented Reflection Technology
have considerable potential to enhance stroke rehabilitation.

Langue : ANGLAIS