An ankle to computer virtual reality system for improving gait and function in a person 9 months poststroke

Area of Science:

• Neurorehabilitation
• Biomedical Engineering
• Movement Science

Background:

• Repetitive practice is crucial for post-stroke functional recovery and cortical plasticity.
• Virtual reality (VR) offers a motivating and safe platform for repetitive rehabilitation with reduced supervision.
• Surface electromyography-activated VR systems show promise for targeted motor retraining.

Observation:

• A 51-year-old female, 9 months post-stroke, participated in an 8-week VR intervention.
• Treatment involved 3 weekly 60-minute sessions combining lower extremity exercises and VR ankle activities.
• The VR system utilized surface electromyography (sEMG) of dorsiflexors and plantarflexors.

Findings:

• The subject exhibited significant improvements in gait velocity.
• The modified Emory Functional Ambulation Profile completion time decreased post-intervention.
• Gait kinematics revealed enhanced ankle motion and plantarflexion moments during push-off.

Implications:

• Improved gait speed and normalized trailing limb posture suggest enhanced functional recovery.
• Ankle-focused VR systems may serve as effective adjunctive therapies for stroke patients.
• This technology holds potential for supervised home-based rehabilitation programs.