Huihui Cai1,2, Tao Lin1,2, Lina Chen1, Huidan Weng1, Ruihan Zhu1, Ying Chen3, Guoen Cai4. 1. Department of Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Institute of Clinical Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian, China. 2. Department of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian, China. 3. Department of Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Institute of Clinical Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian, China. 2320609050@qq.com. 4. Department of Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Institute of Clinical Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian, China. cgessmu@fmu.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The high incidence of cerebral apoplexy makes it one of the most important causes of adult disability. Gait disorder is one of the hallmark symptoms in the sequelae of cerebral apoplexy. The recovery of walking ability is critical for improving patients' quality of life. Innovative virtual reality technology has been widely used in post-stroke rehabilitation, whose effectiveness and safety have been widely verified. To date, however, there are few studies evaluating the effect of immersive virtual reality on stroke-related gait rehabilitation. This study outlines the application of immersive VR-assisted rehabilitation for gait rehabilitation of stroke patients for comparative evaluation with traditional rehabilitation. METHODS: The study describes a prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial. Thirty-six stroke patients will be screened and enrolled as subjects within 1 month of initial stroke and randomized into two groups. The VRT group (n = 18) will receive VR-assisted training (30 min) 5 days/week for 3 weeks. The non-VRT group (n = 18) will receive functional gait rehabilitation training (30 min) 5 days/week for 3 weeks. The primary outcomes and secondary outcomes will be conducted before intervention, 3 weeks after intervention, and 6 months after intervention. The primary outcomes will include time "up & go" test (TUGT). The secondary outcomes will include MMT muscle strength grading standard (MMT), Fugal-Meyer scale (FMA), motor function assessment scale (MAS), improved Barthel index scale (ADL), step with maximum knee angle, total support time, step frequency, step length, pace, and stride length. DISCUSSION: Virtual reality is an innovative technology with broad applications, current and prospective. Immersive VR-assisted rehabilitation in patients with vivid treatment scenarios in the form of virtual games will stimulate patients' interest through active participation. The feedback of VR games can also provide patients with performance awareness and effect feedback, which could be incentivizing. This study may reveal an improved method of stroke rehabilitation which can be helpful for clinical decision-making and future practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1900025375 . Registered on 25 August 2019.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: The high incidence of cerebral apoplexy makes it one of the most important causes of adult disability. Gait disorder is one of the hallmark symptoms in the sequelae of cerebral apoplexy. The recovery of walking ability is critical for improving patients' quality of life. Innovative virtual reality technology has been widely used in post-stroke rehabilitation, whose effectiveness and safety have been widely verified. To date, however, there are few studies evaluating the effect of immersive virtual reality on stroke-related gait rehabilitation. This study outlines the application of immersive VR-assisted rehabilitation for gait rehabilitation of strokepatients for comparative evaluation with traditional rehabilitation. METHODS: The study describes a prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial. Thirty-six strokepatients will be screened and enrolled as subjects within 1 month of initial stroke and randomized into two groups. The VRT group (n = 18) will receive VR-assisted training (30 min) 5 days/week for 3 weeks. The non-VRT group (n = 18) will receive functional gait rehabilitation training (30 min) 5 days/week for 3 weeks. The primary outcomes and secondary outcomes will be conducted before intervention, 3 weeks after intervention, and 6 months after intervention. The primary outcomes will include time "up & go" test (TUGT). The secondary outcomes will include MMT muscle strength grading standard (MMT), Fugal-Meyer scale (FMA), motor function assessment scale (MAS), improved Barthel index scale (ADL), step with maximum knee angle, total support time, step frequency, step length, pace, and stride length. DISCUSSION: Virtual reality is an innovative technology with broad applications, current and prospective. Immersive VR-assisted rehabilitation in patients with vivid treatment scenarios in the form of virtual games will stimulate patients' interest through active participation. The feedback of VR games can also provide patients with performance awareness and effect feedback, which could be incentivizing. This study may reveal an improved method of stroke rehabilitation which can be helpful for clinical decision-making and future practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1900025375 . Registered on 25 August 2019.
Authors: Marco Solcà; Roberta Ronchi; Javier Bello-Ruiz; Thomas Schmidlin; Bruno Herbelin; François Luthi; Michel Konzelmann; Jean-Yves Beaulieu; François Delaquaize; Armin Schnider; Adrian G Guggisberg; Andrea Serino; Olaf Blanke Journal: Neurology Date: 2018-07-06 Impact factor: 9.910