Article

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility and therapeutic effect of engaging children
of differing neuromotor and cognitive ability in a virtual reality (VR) tabletop
workspace designed to improve upper-limb function.
METHOD: Single-subject
experimental design with multiple baselines was employed. Four children with
hemiplegia participated in VR-based training between nine and 19, 30-minute
sessions, over three-four weeks. Outcomes were assessed from the perspective of
the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health;
considering body function, activity performance and participation. Upper-limb
performance was assessed using system-measured variables (speed, trajectory and
accuracy) and standardized tests. Trend analyses were employed to determine
trends on system variables between baseline phase and treatment phases.
Standardised measures were compared between pre- and post-training. RESULTS: Two
children made progress across system variables with some translation to daily
activities. Performance of the other two children was more variable, however,
they engaged positively with the system by the end of the treatment phase.
CONCLUSIONS: The VR (RE-ACTION) system shows promise as an engaging
rehabilitation tool to improve upper-limb function of children with hemiplegia,
across ability levels. Trade-offs between kinematic variables should be
considered when measuring improvements in movement skill. Larger trials are
warranted to evaluate effects of augmented feedback, intensity and duration of
training, and interface type to optimise the system's effectiveness.

Langue : ANGLAIS