Effects of a virtual reality video game exercise program on upper extremity function and daily living activities in stroke patients

Abstract

[Purpose] This study examined the effects of training using virtual reality games on stroke patients’ functional recovery. [Paticipants and Methods] Twenty-four hemiplegia patients whose disease duration was longer than six months participated in this study. The participants were divided at random into a control group (n=12), which received traditional rehabilitation therapy, and an experimental group (n=12), which received both traditional rehabilitation therapy and training using virtual reality games. The program lasted for a total of 12 weeks. To examine the participants’ functional recovery, their upper limb function was measured using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment and Manual Function Test before and after they completed the training and their daily living activities were measured using the Stroke Impact Scale before and after they completed the training. [Results] The experimental group participants’ daily living activities improved after training. In addition, the experimental group scored significantly higher on all the tests than the control group, but upper extremity function between the groups was not significantly different. [Conclusion] Stroke patients who completed the additional training using virtual reality games showed significantly greater improvement in their daily living activities than those who only received traditional rehabilitation therapy.

Non-Immersive Virtual Reality for Post-Stroke Upper Extremity Rehabilitation: A Small Cohort Randomized Trial

“…Previous results suggest a significant difference between groups on the FMUE scale, while muscle strength reports have not shown significant differences pre-and post-therapy. In our study, the increase in muscle strength of the upper extremity may be explained by the addition of wrist weights during VR training and the study design [9,35].…”

Feasibility and safety of an immersive virtual reality-based vestibular rehabilitation programme in people with multiple sclerosis experiencing vestibular impairment: a protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial

“…51 Moreover, a systematic review found that immersive VR (VRi) presents additional clinical benefits when compared with conventional vestibular training (performance and repetition of exercises in a motivational environment, oriented tasks, multisensory stimulation, extrinsic feedback and promotion of adherence). [52][53][54][55][56][57] The VR induces neuroplastic changes in neurological affection as MS. 58 Within VRi, the modality that integrates physical activity in a virtual environment with mentioned advantages is exergame, that has proven to be effective for neurological diseases. 59 60 Moreover, despite exercising through a VR system, it is perceived as less exhausting, 61 while the subject is exposed to a large variety of environments boosting the vestibular mechanism of habituation.…”

Effects of Specific Virtual Reality-Based Therapy for the Rehabilitation of the Upper Limb Motor Function Post-Ictus: Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Several research studies have used the FMA-UE to assess the effects of the intervention on motor function in the upper limb. Their results suggest a significant difference between intervention groups, while the improvement of muscle strength has not shown significant differences before and after the intervention [ 17 , 52 , 53 ]. In our study, the increase in muscle strength in the upper limb and the differences found between the experimental and control groups can be explained by the placement of weights on the wrists during SVR training, coinciding with findings by Miclaus et al [ 54 ].…”