Therapeutic Effects of Metaverse Rehabilitation for Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Ilyoung Moon, Yeongsang An, Seunghwa Min and Chanhee Park ()
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Ilyoung Moon: Department of Physical Therapy, Yonsei University, Wonju 26493, Republic of Korea
Yeongsang An: Funrehab Co., Ltd., Daejeon 35229, Republic of Korea
Seunghwa Min: Funrehab Co., Ltd., Daejeon 35229, Republic of Korea
Chanhee Park: Department of Physical Therapy, Yonsei University, Wonju 26493, Republic of Korea

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 2, 1-11

Abstract: Metaverse physical therapy (MPT), an adjuvant technology for the rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy (CP), has gained notoriety in the clinical field owing to its accessibility and because it provides motivation for rehabilitation. The aim is to compare the gross motor function and cardiopulmonary function, the activities of daily living, quality of life (QOL), and the perceived risk of coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 transmission between MPT and conventional physical therapy (CPT). A convenience sample of 26 children with CP (mean age, 11.23 ± 3.24 years, 14 females) were randomized into either the MPT or CPT group and received therapy three days/week for four weeks. Clinical outcomes included gross-motor-function measure 66 (GMFM-66), heart rate (HR), Borg-rating perceived exertion (BRPE), functional independence measure (FIM), pediatric QOL, and the risk of COVID-19 transmission. An analysis of variance showed that compared with CPT, MPT exerted positive effects on GMFM, HR, and BRPE. An independent t -test showed that compared with CPT, MPT exerted positive effects on the perceived transmission risk of COVID-19 but not on FIM and QOL. Our results provide promising therapeutic evidence that MPT improves gross motor function, cardiopulmonary function, and the risk of COVID-19 in children with CP.

Keywords: metaverse; virtual rehabilitation; cerebral palsy; gross motor function; cardiopulmonary function (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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