Use of Virtual Reality Games for the Treatment of Balance and Reducing the Occurrence of Falls in Patients After Stroke

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of virtual reality associated with conventional physiotherapy on balance during gait and the occurrence of falls in patients after stroke.

Detailed Description
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Randomized clinical trial conducted with patients of both sexes with hemiparesis after stroke of 18 to 65 years. They excluded those who had less than six months of injury, with sensory or perceptual deficit. Patients included were randomized into two groups, a treatment group, which conducted rehabilitation with virtual reality associated with conventional physical therapy and the control group that performed only conventional physiotherapy. Randomization was done by a computer program in blocks, by a third person, respecting the allocation concealment. After selection and randomization, patients were evaluated at baseline, when they were collected demographic and clinical data, investigated the occurrence of falls in the three months prior to evaluation and rated the balance in motion using the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI). Patients were followed for 20 physiotherapy sessions, visits twice a week for an hour each. The assessment of the balance and the investigation of the occurrence of falls were repeated at the end of treatment, which occurred on average three months after the start of the intervention, by the same examiner, who remained blind to the group that the patient belonged.

Official Title
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Therapeutic Effect of Virtual Reality in Patients After Stroke

Conditions
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Stroke

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Virtual Reality
* Other: Conventional


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: patients of both sexes with hemiparesis after stroke of 18 to 65 years. Exclusion Criteria: less than 6 months of injury with sensory or perceptual deficit.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Virtual Reality Group<br>Rehabilitation with virtual reality using games with balance training goal. | Other: Virtual Reality<br>* Rehabilitation with virtual reality, using Football games, Boxe, Bambolê and Tennis.<br>Other: Conventional<br>* Stretching exercises in limbs, trunk mobilization in the three planes, balance training in standing position, training of balance reactions and gait training.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Conventional Group<br>Conventional physiotherapy with exercises for balance training. | Other: Conventional<br>* Stretching exercises in limbs, trunk mobilization in the three planes, balance training in standing position, training of balance reactions and gait training.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) | Balance during gait in patients after stroke undergoing rehabilitation with virtual reality associated with conventional physiotherapy. | avarage 8 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Number of Falls | falls in patients after stroke undergoing rehabilitation with virtual reality associated with conventional physiotherapy. | avarage 8 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Stroke, Virtual reality, Balance, Falls