Development and Validation of Virtual Reality Combined with Shoulder Wheel Device for Active Rehabilitation Training

Abstract

Abstract Objective: To develop and validate the rehabilitation system based on virtual reality to increase patients' time of active rehabilitation during exercises.Methods: Thirty stroke patients admitted to rehabilitation clinics, who met the inclusion criteria, were selected after the initial evaluation performed by a physiotherapist. All patients were randomly divided into two groups. The first group was treated with common shoulder wheel therapy combined with virtual reality, and the control group was treated only with shoulder wheel therapy. Both groups received routine shoulder rehabilitation exercises for four weeks. Clinical assessments (action research arm test and Fugl-Meyer assessment) and functional testing (torque) were performed three times in a 15-day interval, and also a reaction rate-test for one time, at the end of rehabilitation.Results: Results showed that parameters of reaction rate and functional torque tests, clinical evaluations of action research arm test, and Fugl-Meyer assessment increased in both virtual reality and control groups during the treatment. Torque and reaction rate, as well as the Fugl-Meyer assessment functional test were significantly (p <0.05) higher in the intervention group than the control group. Although this difference indicated the relative superiority of virtual reality-based rehabilitation, there was no significant difference in action research arm test assessments (p >0.05).Dissuasion and Conclusion: A rehabilitation system based on virtual reality was designed and developed for stroke patients' shoulders and was evaluated clinically. Results indicate the influential role of virtual reality in improving shoulder functions and increasing active rehabilitation time in stroke patients.