Use of Virtual Reality and Videogames in the Physiotherapy Treatment of Stroke Patients: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Francisco-Javier Peláez-Vélez, Martina Eckert, Mariano Gacto-Sánchez () and Ángel Martínez-Carrasco
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Francisco-Javier Peláez-Vélez: Doctoral Program in Health, Disability, Dependency and Wellness, Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, University of Murcia, 30120 Murcia, Spain
Martina Eckert: Group on Acoustics and MultiMedia Applications (GAMMA), Centro de Investigación en Tecnologías Software y Sistemas Multimedia Para la Sostenibilidad (CITSEM), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), 28031 Madrid, Spain
Mariano Gacto-Sánchez: Department of Physiotherapy, Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, University of Murcia, 30120 Murcia, Spain
Ángel Martínez-Carrasco: Department of Physiotherapy, Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, University of Murcia, 30120 Murcia, Spain

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 6, 1-12

Abstract: A stroke is a neurological condition with a high impact in terms of physical disability in the adult population, requiring specific and effective rehabilitative approaches. Virtual reality (VR), a technological approach in constant evolution, has great applicability in many fields of rehabilitation, including strokes. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of a traditional neurological physiotherapy-based approach combined with the implementation of a specific VR-based program in the treatment of patients following rehabilitation after a stroke. Participants ( n = 24) diagnosed with a stroke in the last six months were randomly allocated into a control group ( n = 12) and an experimental group ( n = 12). Both groups received one-hour sessions of neurological physiotherapy over 6 weeks, whilst the experimental group was, in addition, supplemented with VR. Patients were assessed through the Daniels and Worthingham Scale, Modified Ashworth Scale, Motor Index, Trunk Control Test, Tinetti Balance Scale, Berg Balance Scale and the Functional Ambulation Classification of the Hospital of Sagunto. Statistically significant improvements were obtained in the experimental group with respect to the control group on the Motricity Index ( p = 0.005), Trunk Control Test ( p = 0.008), Tinetti Balance Scale ( p = 0.004), Berg Balance Scale ( p = 0.007) and the Functional Ambulation Classification of the Hospital of Sagunto ( p = 0.038). The use of VR in addition to the traditional physiotherapy approach is a useful strategy in the treatment of strokes.

Keywords: physiotherapy techniques; cerebrovascular stroke; virtual reality; rehabilitation; exergaming (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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