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Abstract
BackgroundIndividuals with acquired brain injuries (ABI) are in need of neurorehabilitation and neurorepair. Virtual anatomical interactivity (VAI) presents a digital game-like format in which ABI survivors with upper limb paresis use an unaffected limb to control a standard input device and a commonplace computer mouse to control virtual limb movements and tasks in a virtual world.MethodsIn a prospective cohort study, 35 ambulatory survivors of ABI (25/71% stroke, 10/29% traumatic brain injury) were enrolled. The subjects were divided into three groups: group A received VAI therapy only, group B received VAI and physical/occupational therapy (P/OT), and group C received P/OT only. Motor skills were evaluated by muscle strength (hand key pinch strength, grasp, and three-jaw chuck pinch) and active range of motion (AROM) of the shoulder, elbow, and wrist. Changes were analyzed by ANOVA, ANCOVA, and one-tailed Pearson correlation analysis. MRI data was acquired for group A, and volumetric changes in grey matter were analyzed using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and correlated with quantified motor skills.ResultsAROM of the shoulder, elbow, and wrist improved in all three groups. VBM revealed grey matter increases in five brain areas: the tail of the hippocampus, the left caudate, the rostral cingulate zone, the depth of the central sulcus, and the visual cortex. A positive correlation between the grey matter volumes in three cortical regions (motor and premotor and supplementary motor areas) and motor test results (power and AROM) was detected.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the VAI rehabilitation program significantly improved motor function and skills in the affected upper extremities of subjects with acquired brain injuries. Significant increases in grey matter volume in the motor and premotor regions of affected hemisphere and correlations of motor skills and volume in nonaffected brain regions were present, suggesting marked changes in structural brain plasticity.Trial registrationThe trial “Limitations of motor brain activity – use of virtual reality for simulation of therapeutic interventions” has been registered under reference number ISRCTN11757651.
Highlights
Individuals with acquired brain injuries (ABI) are in need of neurorehabilitation and neurorepair
As the Virtual anatomical interactivity (VAI) group (A) received only about 15 h of intervention total on average compared to the 15 h per week that groups B and C received within the timeframe of the study, we introduced therapy hours as a covariate and conducted one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA, p < 0.10)
analysis of variance (ANOVA) did not reveal group differences in terms of age, but they were different in terms of time postinjury, where subjects in group A were significantly longer after ABI
Summary
Individuals with acquired brain injuries (ABI) are in need of neurorehabilitation and neurorepair. Age-standardized mortality rates for ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes have decreased in the past two decades, the absolute number of stroke survivors is increasing, with most of the burden in low- and middle-income countries [3]. Another major issue is that trends toward increasing stroke incidence at younger ages has been observed [4]. A few survivors are able to regain some useful function of the upper limb. Regaining control and improving upper limb motor function after ABIs are crucial goals of motor system rehabilitation. Mirror therapy has been reported as a promising approach to improve neglect symptoms [8, 9]
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