Exercise Training, Exproprioception, Spatial Perception, Stroke, Virtual Reality
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to determine if a virtual reality training of foot placement with or without visual cues about the location of the foot in the environment would improve locomotion-related function in persons in the chronic stage of stroke. Participants were randomly assigned to receive twice per week, for a total of 2 weeks' training with visual cues (control group) or without (experimental group). It was hypothesized that the experimental group would be able to place the foot closer to the target when stepping and have more symmetrical gait. So far, 22 stroke patients completed the experiment. Preliminary results support the hypothesis. This project is still ongoing.
Interventions
OTHERVirtual reality foot placement training
The training is conducted in sitting and standing, and involves both the affected and unaffected foot placement. In the total immersive virtual environment, a target will be presented and the participants are required to move one foot to the target. The location of the moving foot is not seen by the participant in this training.
Sponsors
National Cheng Kung University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
20 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* first time unilateral stroke and onset over 6 months * able to independent walking with or without aids over 10 meters * Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score above 24 * orientation intake, able to identify right and left * normal or corrected-to-normal vision, able to see the 2 cm diameter circle on the floor while standing
Exclusion criteria
* gait nearly normal * had other neurological and musculoskeletal disease which can affect walking ability * hemineglect * use virtual reality device will severely discomfort, such as headaches, blurred vision, vertigo or vomiting
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| foot placement accuracy (cm) | 2 weeks | The distance between the foot and the target in various stepping tasks |
| gait symmetry | 2 weeks | ratio of the two leg step lengths |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| exproprioception (cm) | 2 weeks | the error in placing the unaffected foot at a location previously defined by the affected foot |
Countries
Taiwan
Contacts
Primary ContactSang-I Lin, PhD
Outcome results
None listed