The effect of virtual reality-based eccentric training on lower extremity muscle activation and balance in stroke patients

Background:Post stroke patients need to be rehabilitated to improve their body functions to performed daily activity. Mostly conventional rehabilitative therapies were monotonous which may decrease patient’s motivation due to repetitive and simple movements. Virtual reality intervention as technology based therapy showing a promises approach that could be applied in stroke rehabilitation. Objective:This literature review aimed to identify various virtual reality interventions and its effectiveness for rehabilitation stroke patients. Methods: An integrative literature review was conducted to search the publication in the data base of Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL and Pubmed in period during 2009 to 2019. The inclusion criteria were randomized control trial, studies that used virtual reality in rehabilitation patients with stroke; free full text articles, and used English language. The exclusion criteria was pilot study. Finally a total of 13 relevant studies includedinanalysis. Results: All of the articles were randomized control trials published in 2018 or later. The sample size were adults or elderly varied from 20-80 years old with stroke. The sample size varied from 20 to 121 respondents. Nintendo Wii was the mostcommonusedasVRintervention. Conclusions:This review shows evidences that suggested the effectiveness of virtual reality intervention in rehabilitation patients with stroke. Most studies supportthe beneﬁcial effects of VR on upper limb motor recovery. Other studies reported the improvement in balance, walking, lower extremity muscle activation, visual perception, brain activity and activity daily living in stroke patients.

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Role of Occupational Footwear and Prolonged Walking on Lower Extremity Muscle Activation during Maximal Exertions and Postural Stability Tasks

Biomechanics ◽

10.3390/biomechanics1020017 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 202-213

Author(s):

Harish Chander ◽

Sachini N. K. Kodithuwakku Arachchige ◽

Alana J. Turner ◽

Reuben F. Burch V ◽

Adam C. Knight ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lower Extremity ◽

Muscle Activity ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Postural Stability ◽

Muscle Activation ◽

Medial Gastrocnemius ◽

Lower Extremity Muscle ◽

Prolonged Duration ◽

The Mean ◽

The Impact

Background: Occupational footwear and a prolonged duration of walking have been previously reported to play a role in maintaining postural stability. The purpose of this paper was to analyze the impact of three types of occupational footwear: the steel-toed work boot (ST), the tactical work boot (TB), and the low-top work shoe (LT) on previously unreported lower extremity muscle activity during postural stability tasks. Methods: Electromyography (EMG) muscle activity was measured from four lower extremity muscles (vastus medialis (VM), medial hamstrings (MH), tibialis anterior (TA), and medial gastrocnemius (MG) during maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC) and during a sensory organization test (SOT) every 30 min over a 4 h simulated workload while wearing ST, TB, and LT footwear. The mean MVIC and the mean and percentage MVIC during each SOT condition from each muscle was analyzed individually using a repeated measures ANOVA at an alpha level of 0.05. Results: Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found for maximal exertions, but this was limited to only the time main effect. No significant differences existed for EMG measures during the SOT. Conclusion: The findings suggest that occupational footwear type does not influence lower extremity muscle activity during both MVIC and SOT. Significantly lower muscle activity during maximal exertions over the course of the 4 h workload was evident, which can be attributed to localized muscular fatigue, but this was not sufficient to impact muscle activity during postural stability tasks.

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