Abstract
Virtual reality (VR)-based therapies are widely used in stroke rehabilitation. Although various studies have used VR techniques for bilateral upper limb training, most have been only semi-immersive and have only been performed in an artificial environment. This study developed VR content and protocols based on activities of daily living to provide immersive VR-based bilateral arm training (VRBAT) for upper limb rehabilitation in stroke patients. Twelve patients with chronic stroke were randomized to a VRBAT group or a normal bilateral arm training (NBAT) group and attended 30-min training sessions five times a week for four weeks. At the end of the training, there was a significant difference in upper limb function in both groups (p < 0.05) and in the upper limb function sensory test for proprioception in the NBAT group (p < 0.05). There was no significant between-group difference in upper limb muscle activity after training. The relative alpha and beta power values for electroencephalographic measurements were significantly improved in both groups. These findings indicate that both VRBAT and NBAT are effective interventions for improving upper limb function and electroencephalographic activity in patients with chronic stroke.
Highlights
Stroke has a wide range of sequelae, including sensory abnormalities, impaired visual perception, cognition, and speech, and difficulty in movement or activity due to loss of motor function [1]
This study was conducted by randomly assigning stroke patients six months or more after the onset of the stroke into an immersive virtual reality-based bilateral arm training group and normal bilateral arm training group
There were some differences in the therapeutic effect between the VR-based bilateral arm training (VRBAT) group and the normal bilateral arm training (NBAT) group
Summary
Stroke has a wide range of sequelae, including sensory abnormalities, impaired visual perception, cognition, and speech, and difficulty in movement or activity due to loss of motor function [1]. Among the various interventions for the recovery of upper limb function in stroke patients, bilateral arm training is effective [2]. Many studies have investigated the therapeutic effect of bilateral upper limb movement in hemiplegic patients [3,4]. Treatments based on the Bobath concept, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, task-oriented training, constraint-induced movement therapy, and robotic therapy are currently being used as interventions for upper limb function in stroke patients, and research on these treatments is ongoing. These treatments involve monotonous and uninteresting tasks and do not encourage patient participation.
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