Motor rehabilitation of patients in the acute period of stroke using virtual reality technology

Abstract

To study an effect of adjuvant rehabilitation using implicit virtual reality on the dynamics of the motor function of the lower extremities in patients in the acute period of ischemic stroke. The study was carried out to assess the effectiveness and safety of rehabilitation using virtual reality in 60 patients with lower central paresis in the acute period of ischemic stroke, lasting from 3 to 5 days. Patients of the study group additionally received rehabilitation using the hardware-software complex ReviVR, which allows to stimulate the patient's plantar surface by means of pneumo cuffs synchronously with the step of his animated body. Animation of movement was demonstrated to the patient using virtual reality glasses. The duration of the classes was 10 days, 20-25 minutes each. The total duration of rehabilitation measures in the study and comparison groups was 3-4 hours. A significant regression on NIHSS (3 [-4; -1] and -1 [-2; 0], p<0.001) and a progress on RMI (3 [1; 3] and 2 [0; 2], p<0.001, respectively), between the study group and the control group were found. Changes on FMA-LE section (E-F) occurred on day 10, between the study and comparison groups (9 [5; 16] and 4 [0; 7], respectively, p=0.04). The improvement in FMA-LE out of synergy, in the standing position, indicated an increased readiness of the patient to form an independent walk. The study has shown that the use of virtual reality rehabilitation increases the effectiveness of motor rehabilitation in patients with lower central paresis in the acute period of stroke.