Immersive virtual reality (VR) is a technology that provides a more realistic environmental design and object tracking than ordinary VR. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of immersive VR on upper extremity function in patients with ischemic stroke. Sixty-five patients with ischemic stroke were included in this randomized, controlled, double-blind study. Patients were randomly divided into VR (n = 33) and control (n = 32) groups. The VR group received 60 minutes of the upper extremity immersive VR rehabilitation program and the control group received 45 minutes of conventional therapy and 15 minutes of a sham VR program. Rehabilitation consisted of 18 sessions of therapy, three days per week, for six weeks. The outcome measures were the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity Scale (FMUE) and Performance Assessment of Self-Care Skills (PASS). In both the VR and control groups all parameters except the PASS improved over time. However independent t-test results showed that all of the FMUE, ARAT, FIM and PASS scores were significantly higher in the VR group compared with the control (p < 0.05). The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) scores of the FMUE and ARAT were higher than the cut-off MCID scores described in the literature in the VR group, whereas the FIM scores were below the cut-off MCID scores. All scores in the control group were below the cut-off scores. Immersive VR rehabilitation appeared to be effective in improving upper extremity function and self-care skills, but it did not improve functional independence.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of immersive three‐dimensional (3D) interactive virtual reality (VR) on anatomy training in undergraduate physical therapy students. A total of 72 students were included in the study. The students were randomized into control (n = 36) and VR (n = 36) group according to the Kolb Learning Style Inventory, sex, and Purdue Spatial Visualization Test Rotations (PSVT‐R). Each student completed a pre‐intervention and post‐intervention test, consisting of 15 multiple‐choice questions. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, sex, Kolb Learning Style Inventory distribution, and the PSVT‐R (P > 0.05). The post‐test scores were significantly higher compared to pre‐test scores in both the VR group (P < 0.001) and the control group (P < 0.001). The difference between the pre‐test and post‐test results was found to be significantly higher in favor of the VR group (P < 0.001). In this study, anatomy training with a 3D immersive VR system was found to be beneficial. These results suggest that VR systems can be used as an alternative method to the conventional anatomy training approach for health students.

Purpose: Sleep problems commonly seen in children with cerebral palsy (CP) adversely affect daily living activities and treatment participation. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between sleep problems and gross motor function levels in children with spastic CP and to determine parents' quality of life (QOL). Methods: Sixty children with spastic CP and 60 typically developing children between the ages of 4 and 12 years and their parents were enrolled in the study. After obtaining demographic data, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) was used to determine motor function levels. International Classification of Diseases-10 was used for cognitive function. Children's Sleeping Habits Questionnaire measured children's sleeping habits. The Nottingham Health Profile was used to evaluate parents' QOL. Results: Fifty-two (86.7%) children with CP had sleep disorders. Sleep disturbance values were significantly higher in the CP group than the controls (52.7±7.6 vs 41.5±8.01, respectively), p=0.001. There was no significant difference between GMFCS levels and sleep disorders in children with CP (p>0.05) except morning fatigue (p=0.028). There was no difference between cognition, medication use, and sleep problems (p>0.05). Parents' QOL was found to be worse in the CP group (p=0.001). Conclusion: Rate of sleep disorders in children with CP was higher than controls. Their mothers' QOL values were found to be worse. Conditions that may be associated with sleep disorders in children with CP and their parents' conditions need to be better identified and screened.

Bu çalışmanın amacı inme sonrası disfaji görülen bireylerde kullanılan postüral adaptasyon manevralarının bireylerin yutma fonksiyonu üzerine etkisini incelemektir. Gereç ve Yöntem: Fonksiyonel oral alım skalasına göre disfaji görülen 64 inmeli birey bu çalışmaya dahil edilmiştir. Bireylerin yutma becerileri Teat-10 testi ile baş nötral pozisyonda ve etkilemiş tarafa rotasyon yaptırılarak 2 kez değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular: Etkilenen arter bölgelerine göre yutma bozukluk şiddetlerinde belirgin farklılık olduğu bulunmuştur(p<0.05). Pozisyonlama sonrası yapılan yutma değerlendirmesi sonuçlarında nötral pozisyona göre yutmalarının anlamlı düzeyde değiştiği gözlenmiştir(p<0.05). Sonuç: Bu çalışmada chin tuck postürüne ek olarak başın etkilenen tarafa rotasyonunun inmeli disfajik bireylerde yutma fonksiyonları üzerine olumlu etkisi bulunmuştur.

No abstract