Interactive Videogame Improved Rehabilitation Motivation and Walking Speed in Chronic Stroke Patients: A Dual-Center...

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of interactive video games (IVGs) in rehabilitation motivation and walking and balance abilities in chronic stroke patients. In this dual-center controlled trial, 24 chronic stroke patients from rehabilitation centers A and B were randomly assigned to an experimental (IVGs + traditional neurodevelopment treatment [TNT], n = 12) or a control group (walking training + TNT, n = 12). The patients in both the groups underwent TNT for 4 weeks (5 days/week) before undergoing either IVGs or walking training (4 weeks, 3 days/week) depending on the group. The primary and secondary outcomes were rehabilitation motivation and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score, Functional Reach Test (FRT) performance, and walking speed (WS), respectively. The patients in both the groups showed significant increase in the BBS score, FRT performance, and WS; however, the experimental group showed more significant improvements in rehabilitation motivation (P = 0.02, η² = 0.415) and WS (P = 0.05, η² = 0.333) than the patients in the control group. This study suggests that the IVGs in combination with TNT provide effective rehabilitation motivation in chronic stroke patients. Clinical Trial Registration number: KCT0003408.