Article

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of a trial to investigate the effectiveness
of virtual reality-mediated therapy compared to conventional physiotherapy in the
motor rehabilitation of the arm following stroke, and to provide data for a power
analysis to determine numbers for a future main trial.
DESIGN: Pilot randomized
controlled trial. SETTING: Clinical research facility.
PARTICIPANTS: Eighteen
people with a first stroke, 10 males and 8 females, 7 right and 2 left side most
affected. Mean time since stroke 10.8 months. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were
randomized to a virtual reality group or a conventional arm therapy group for
nine sessions over three weeks. MAIN MEASURES: The upper limb Motricity Index and
the Action Research Arm Test were completed at baseline, post intervention and
six weeks follow-up. RESULTS: Outcome data were obtained from 95% of participants
at the end of treatment and at follow-up: one participant withdrew. Compliance
was high; only two people reported side-effects from virtual reality exposure.
Both groups demonstrated small (7-8 points on upper limb Motricity Index and 4
points on the Action Research Arm Test), but non-significant, changes to their
arm impairment and activity levels. CONCLUSION:
A randomized controlled trial of
virtual reality-mediated therapy comparable to conventional therapy would be
feasible, with some suggested improvements in recruitment and outcome measures.
Seventy-eight participants (39 per group) would be required for a main trial.

Langue : ANGLAIS