Virtual Reality Rehabilitation With Functional Electrical Stimulation Improves Upper Extremity Function in Patients...

Area of Science:

• Neurorehabilitation
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Chronic stroke often results in upper extremity hemiplegia, significantly impacting motor function and quality of life.
• Restoring upper extremity function is a critical goal in stroke rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of virtual reality combined with functional electrical stimulation (VR-FES) against cyclic functional electrical stimulation (FES) for improving upper extremity function and health-related quality of life in chronic stroke patients.

Main Methods:

• A pilot, randomized, single-blind, controlled trial was conducted with 48 participants with chronic stroke and hemiplegia.
• The intervention group received VR-FES with virtual activity-based training, while the control group received cyclic FES only, with both groups completing 20 sessions over 4 weeks.

Main Results:

• VR-FES demonstrated a substantial increase in the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-distal score (P=.011) compared to FES alone.
• Marginal improvement was observed in the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test-gross score (P=.057) with VR-FES.
• VR-FES generally showed greater improvements across other outcome measures, excluding the Stroke Impact Scale-activities of daily living/instrumental activities of daily living score.

Conclusions:

• Functional electrical stimulation (FES) combined with virtual reality (VR)-based rehabilitation may offer superior outcomes compared to cyclic FES for enhancing distal upper extremity gross motor performance poststroke.
• This pilot study suggests VR-FES as a potentially more effective rehabilitation strategy for stroke survivors.