scholarly journals Effects of virtual reality-based treadmill training on the balance and gait ability in patients after stroke

2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-102
Author(s):  
Maruša Kržišnik ◽  
Barbara Horvat Rauter ◽  
Nataša Bizovčar
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Treadmill Training ◽  
Step Test ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Walk Test ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Lateral Asymmetry ◽  
Subacute Stroke ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Experimental Group

Gait and balance impairments contribute significantly to long-term disability after stroke. Modern concepts of stroke rehabilitation recommend a task-specific repetitive approach, such as using treadmill training. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of using virtual reality-based treadmill training to improve balance and gait in subacute stroke patients. Twenty-two stroke patients were randomly stratified into two groups: the experimental (n = 11) and the control group (n = 11). Parameters associated with balance and gait were measured using the 6-minute walk test, the 10-meter walk test, the timed “up and go” test, the functional gait assessment, and the four square step test. Gait analysis using the zebris Rehawalk® treadmill system was also performed. Patients in the experimental group received virtual reality-based treadmill training five times a week for a period of four weeks, while those in the control group received treadmill training at the same frequency, duration, intensity, and structure, along with a progressively more difficult task demands. Significant improvements were observed in selected outcome measures in both groups after training. Patients in the experimental group experienced improvements in all of the spatiotemporal gait parameters, but there was a significant difference before and after training in duration of double support and lateral asymmetry. The findings of this pilot randomized controlled trial support the benefits of using a virtual reality-based treadmill training program to improve gait and balance in subacute stroke patients.

EFFECT OF YOGA ON CARDIOVASCULAR EFFICIENCY

2019 ◽  
pp. 12-16
Author(s):  
Brij Bhushan Singh ◽  
Shubi Mirja ◽  
Samiya Husain
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Technique ◽  
Step Test ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Group A ◽  
Cardio Vascular ◽  
Level Of Significance ◽  
Group B ◽  
Experimental Group

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of yogic practices on cardio-vascular efficiency. Material and methods: Total Forty (40) subject’s boys/girls were selected as the sample of the study through the random sampling and their age ranged between 20 to 25 years from the Department of Physical Education, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. The subjects were divided into two groups comprising 20 subjects in each group, namely group “A” (the experimental group) performs yogic practices (Asanas, Pranayamas and Kriyas) and group “B” (the control group) served as control. Statistical technique: for the assessment of the cardiovascular efficiency through Harvard step test pre and post-test was conducted and t-test was applied for the analysis. Result: revealed that there exist a significant difference between group A and group B, at .05 level of significance. On the basis of the pre and post-test among experimental and control group, experimental group found better than the control group on cardiovascular efficiency and significant result were found in this study.

scholarly journals Wired to Exit: Exploring the Effects of Wayfinding Affordances in Underground Facilities Using Virtual Reality

2020 ◽  
pp. 104687812094456
Author(s):  
Panos Kostakos ◽  
Paula Alavesa ◽  
Mikko Korkiakoski ◽  
Mario Monteiro Marques ◽  
Victor Lobo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Head Mounted Display ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Parking Lot ◽  
Biometric Measurements ◽  
Physiological Outcomes ◽  
High Level ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Level Effect

Background Wayfinding has been adopted in several intense evacuation and navigation simulations; however, the use of biometric measurements for characterizing physiological outcomes has been somewhat overlooked and applied only under limited laboratory conditions. Methods Twenty-four participants took part in a virtual reality (VR) experiment using a wayfinding installation with the Oculus Rift S head-mounted display (HMD). They were immersed in a simulation of a burning underground parking lot and tasked to navigate to the exit. The purpose of this research was to investigate the high-level effect of wayfinding assistive lights on behavioral, physiological, and psychological outcomes. Participants were split into two groups: the control group was exposed to a scene without assistive lights, and the experimental group was exposed to the same scene with assistive lights. Results Results indicate there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in traveled distance, pauses, turns, or game completion time. Curiously, differences between the two groups in heart rate (HR) outcomes were found to be statistically significant, with subjects in the control group displaying an increasing HR trend during simulation. Conclusions This finding, in accordance with previous studies that have shown the efficacy of landmarks and wayfinding affordances in reducing cognitive demands, suggests that assistive lights might contribute to improved brain wiring connectivity during the game. We discuss these findings in the context of a rich wayfinding affordances literature.

scholarly journals Investigation of the effect of the virtual reality application on experimental pain severity in healthy

2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 446-451
Author(s):  
Dilek Karaman ◽  
Funda Erol ◽  
Dilek Yılmaz ◽  
Yurdanur Dikmen
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Adult Type ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
And Control ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Virtual Reality Application

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of virtual reality application on experimental ischemic pain created with a blood pressure instrument in healthy volunteers. METHODS: The research sample consisted of 172 volunteer adult students who conformed to the inclusion criteria. These individuals were assigned into an experimental (n=86) and a control group (n=86) by a simple randomization method. All individuals in the experimental and control groups wereexperimentally subjected to pain for two minutes by applying 260 mmHg of pressure 3-4 cm above the antecubital region of the left arm with an aneroid adult-type blood pressure instrument. During the procedure, the volunteers in the experimental group watched virtual reality images, while those in the control group received no intervention. Immediately after the procedure, the pain levels of the individuals in both groups were assessed with a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). RESULTS: We found that the mean pain score of the individuals in the experimental group was 2.62±1.82, and that of individuals in the control group was 5.75±1.65. Results of the statistical analysis showed a statistically significant difference between the mean pain scores of the individuals in the experimental and control groups (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study found that the use of virtual reality was effective in reducing the level of pain in healthy individuals. This method used a smartphone with widespread availability and ease of transportation, which can be used by health professionals as a non-pharmacological method in the management of pain.

Clinical Experience Using a 5-Week Treadmill Training Program With Virtual Reality to Enhance Gait in an Ambulatory Physical Therapy Service

2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (9) ◽  
pp. 1319-1326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shirley Roth Shema ◽  
Marina Brozgol ◽  
Moran Dorfman ◽  
Inbal Maidan ◽  
Lior Sharaby-Yeshayahu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Physical Therapy ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Clinical Experience ◽  
Gait Training ◽  
Treadmill Training ◽  
Step Test ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Clinical Records

BackgroundCurrent literature views safe gait as a complex task, relying on motor and cognitive resources. The use of virtual reality (VR) in gait training offers a multifactorial approach, showing positive effects on mobility, balance, and fall risk in elderly people and individuals with neurological disorders. This form of training has been described as a viable research tool; however, it has not been applied routinely in clinical practice. Recently, VR was used to develop an adjunct training method for use by physical therapists in an ambulatory clinical setting.ObjectiveThe aim of this article is to describe the initial clinical experience of applying a 5-week VR clinical service to improve gait and mobility in people with a history of falls, poor mobility, or postural instability.DesignA retrospective data analysis was conducted.MethodsThe clinical records of the first 60 patients who completed the VR gait training program were examined. Training was provided 3 times per week for 5 weeks, with each session lasting approximately 1 hour and consisting of walking on a treadmill while negotiating virtual obstacles. Main outcome measures were compared across time and included the Timed “Up & Go” Test (TUG), the Two-Minute Walk Test (2MWT), and the Four Square Step Test (FSST).ResultsAfter 5 weeks of training, time to complete the TUG decreased by 10.3%, the distance walked during the 2MWT increased by 9.5%, and performance on the FSST improved by 13%.LimitationsLimitations of the study include the use of a retrospective analysis with no control group and the lack of objective cognitive assessment.ConclusionsTreadmill training with VR appears to be an effective and practical tool that can be applied in an outpatient physical therapy clinic. This training apparently leads to improvements in gait, mobility, and postural control. It, perhaps, also may augment cognitive and functional aspects.

scholarly journals Effect of proprioceptive sensation and feedback required for motor learning on function, activity, and daily life behavior of patients after nerve injury

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 474-481
Author(s):  
Jung-Ho Lee
Keyword(s):  
Upper Extremity ◽  
Daily Activities ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Mirror Therapy ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Proprioceptive Sensation ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Upper Extremity Function ◽  
Function Activity ◽  
Experimental Group

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of modified mirror therapy and taping therapy for providing feedback on upper extremity function, activity, and daily activities of stroke patients. Methods: This study was conducted with 20 stroke patients and randomly assigned 10 subjects to the experimental group and 10 to the control group. In the experimental group, after proprioceptive neuromuscular stimulation treatment, the mirror therapy program was implemented. In the control group, upper extremity taping was performed before proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation treatment. In this study, a prior evaluation using JTT, FIM, and MAL was performed before intervention to evaluate the patient's function and daily life behavior. Post-tests were performed after the last treatment. Results: In the paired-sample T-test used for within-group comparison of JTTs, FIM, and MAL, there was a significant difference between pre- and post-test for all groups. But there was no statistically significant difference between experimental group 1 and experimental group 2 in an independent t-test conducted to compare the effect sizes of treatments. Conclusion: In other words, by applying mirror therapy and taping therapy that can increase proprioceptive sensation and feedback information in stroke patients, upper extremity function and daily activities can be increased.

scholarly journals Measuring Learnability through Virtual Reality Laboratory Application: A User Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 10812
Author(s):  
Ghazala Rasheed ◽  
Muzafar Khan ◽  
Noman Malik ◽  
Adnan Akhunzada
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
User Study ◽  
Virtual Laboratory ◽  
Control Group ◽  
School Students ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Virtual Laboratories ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Experimental Group

The cutting-edge technology of virtual reality has changed almost every aspect of life in e-commerce, engineering, medicine, and entertainment. This technology has also made its way to the field of education in the form of virtual laboratories. A lack of student engagement and interest towards STEM subjects is reported in the literature. Several studies have been conducted to evaluate virtual reality in education, but these studies are limited in terms of participants and subject coverage. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of virtual laboratories to develop student’s practical learning skills for secondary school physics. For this purpose, a desktop-based virtual laboratory application was developed based on the guidelines extracted from the literature. A user study was adopted as the main research method, and it was conducted with 184 students of 4 different schools. In each school, students were divided into two groups: experimental (used the virtual laboratory application) and control (used a physical laboratory). The data were collected through an academic quiz conducted at the end of the study. The mean score of the experimental group was 7.16, compared with 5.87 for the control group. The results revealed that the students’ learning using the virtual laboratory application was better compared with the control group. Interestingly, there was no significant difference in the performance of boys and girls in both groups. The usability questionnaire was also completed by 92 students of the experimental group to assess the application interface. The mean score was 73.5 (above average) with an internal consistency of 0.76. The participants found the virtual laboratory application to be user-friendly, easy to use, and supportive in learning.

scholarly journals Application of Virtual Reality for Learning the Material Properties of Shape Memory Alloys

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 580 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wernhuar Tarng ◽  
Chia-Jung Chen ◽  
Chi-Young Lee ◽  
Chih-Ming Lin ◽  
Yu-Jun Lin
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Shape Memory ◽  
Materials Science ◽  
Teaching Experiment ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Learning Effectiveness ◽  
Special Equipment ◽  
Teaching Module ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Experimental Group

A shape memory alloy (SMA) is an alloy which can eliminate deformation at lower temperatures and restore its original shape upon heating. SMAs have been receiving considerable attention in the research field of materials science, and their applications include robotics, automotive, aerospace, and biomedical industries. Observing the SMA’s shaping and restoration processes is important for understanding its working principles and applications. However, the transformation of its crystal structure with temperature can only be seen using special equipment, such as a transmission electron microscope (TEM), which is an expensive apparatus and the operation requires professional skills. In this study, a teaching module is designed using virtual reality (VR) technology and research results of an SMA to show its shape memory properties, shaping and restoration processes, as well as the real-life applications in an immersive and interactive way. A teaching experiment has been conducted to analyze students’ learning effectiveness using the teaching module (the experimental group) compared with that of using real SMA materials as the teaching aids (the control group). Two classes of students in the Department of Materials Science (one as the experimental group and the other as the control group) were selected as the samples by convenience sampling from a university in North Taiwan. The experimental group contained 52 students and the control group contained 70 students. A nonequivalent pretest-posttest design was adopted to explore whether the two groups had a significant difference in learning effectiveness. The experimental results reveal that the teaching module can improve the learning effectiveness significantly (p = 0.001), and the questionnaire results also show that a majority of the students had positive attitudes about the teaching module. They believed that it could increase their learning motivation and help them understand the properties and applications of the SMA.

scholarly journals Efficacy of Myofunctional Therapy Associated with Voice Therapy in the Rehabilitation of Neurogenic Oropharyngeal Dysphagia: a pilot study

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (03) ◽  
pp. 225-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Fraga ◽  
Sheila Almeida ◽  
Márcia Santana ◽  
Mauriceia Cassol
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Oropharyngeal Dysphagia ◽  
Oral Intake ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Swallowing Rehabilitation ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Vocal Exercises ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Post Therapy

Introduction Dysphagia causes changes in the laryngeal and stomatognathic structures; however, the use of vocal exercises is poorly described. Objective To verify whether the therapy consisting of myofunctional exercises associated with vocal exercises is more effective in rehabilitating deglutition in stroke patients. Methods This is a pilot study made up of two distinct groups: a control group, which performed only myofunctional exercises, and an experimental group, which performed myofunctional and vocal exercises. The assessment used for oral intake was the functional oral intake scale (FOIS). Results The FOIS levels reveal that the pre-therapy median of the experimental group was 4, and increased to 7 after therapy, while in the control group the values were 5 and 6 respectively. Thus, the experimental group had a statistically significant difference between the pre- and post-therapy assessments (p = 0.039), which indicates that the combination of myofunctional and vocal exercises was more effective in improving the oral intake levels than the myofunctional exercises alone (p = 0.059). On the other hand, the control group also improved, albeit at a lower rate compared with the experimental group; hence, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups post-therapy (p = 0.126). Conclusion This pilot study showed indications that using vocal exercises in swallowing rehabilitation in stroke patients was able to yield a greater increase in the oral intake levels. Nevertheless, further controlled blind clinical trials with larger samples are required to confirm such evidence, as this study points to the feasibility of conducting this type of research.

scholarly journals Efficacy of a Novel Exoskeletal Robot for Locomotor Rehabilitation in Stroke Patients: A Multi-center, Non-inferiority, Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongqiang Li ◽  
Tao Fan ◽  
Qi Qi ◽  
Jun Wang ◽  
Huaide Qiu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Swing Phase ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Locomotor Training ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Locomotor Function ◽  
Subacute Stroke ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Robot Group

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of a novel lower-limb exoskeletal robot, BEAR-H1 (Shenzhen Milebot Robot Technology), in the locomotor function of subacute stroke patients.Methods: The present study was approved by the ethical committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (No. 2019-MD-43), and registration was recorded on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry with a unique identifier: ChiCTR2100044475. A total of 130 patients within 6 months of stroke were randomly divided into two groups: the robot group and the control group. The control group received routine training for walking, while in the robot group, BEAR-H1 lower-limb exoskeletal robot was used for locomotor training. Both groups received two sessions daily, 5 days a week for 4 weeks consecutively. Each session lasted 30 min. Before treatment, after treatment for 2 weeks, and 4 weeks, the patients were assessed based on the 6-minute walking test (6MWT), functional ambulation scale (FAC), Fugl-Meyer assessment lower-limb subscale (FMA-LE), and Vicon gait analysis.Results: After a 4-week intervention, the results of 6MWT, FMA-LE, FAC, cadence, and gait cycle in the two groups significantly improved (P &lt; 0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P &gt; 0.05). The ratio of stance phase to that of swing phase, swing phase symmetry ratio (SPSR), and step length symmetry ratio (SLSR) was not significantly improved after 4 weeks of training in both the groups. Further analyses revealed that the robot group exhibited potential benefits, as the point estimates of 6MWT and Δ6MWT (post-pre) at 4 weeks were higher than those in the control group. Additionally, within-group comparison showed that patients in the robot group had a significant improvement in 6MWT earlier than their counterparts in the control group.Conclusions: The rehabilitation robot in this study could improve the locomotor function of stroke patients; however, its effect was no better than conventional locomotor training.

scholarly journals Effects of Treadmill Training and Stationary Cycling Training to Improve Ambulatory Function and Cardiovascular Fitness

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. 2171-2174
Author(s):  
Mian Ali Raza ◽  
Misbah Waris ◽  
Farrukh Murtaza ◽  
Sadaf Waris ◽  
Rabiya Noor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Health ◽  
Cardiovascular Fitness ◽  
Treadmill Training ◽  
Walk Test ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Cycle Group ◽  
Cycling Training ◽  
10 Meter Walk Test

Background: Stroke is a universal health care disease, the important cause of long time disability in world. Stroke leads to an inactive living, physical restrictions, and not good physical levels, which are related with common post-stroke participation limits. Aerobic capability and walking ability are decreased in old chronic patients of stroke. Aim: To determine the effects of treadmill training and stationary cycling training to improve ambulatory function and cardiovascular fitness in hemiparetic stroke patients Methods: 54 chronic stroke patients were allocated to treadmill training group(n=27) or stationary cycle exercise group (n=27). All participants received conventional physical therapy along with treadmill or stationary cycle training. The 10MWT was conducted to measure gait function and 6 min walk test was used to measure cardiovascular health. Results: The mean of treadmill group for 10 meter walk test is 10.01 + 15.48. The mean of stationary cycle group for 10 meter walk test is 9.80 + 6.77. The mean of treadmill group for 6 min walk test is 22.04+ 17.45. The mean of stationary cycle group for 6 min walk test is 23.20+ 22.92. The p value of 0.000 shows significant difference. This significant difference reflects that both interventions show equal improvement in participants. There is significant difference between pre and post treatment values of both interventions. Both intervention groups displayed significant effect in ambulatory functions and cardiovascular fitness. The results between groups were non significant, it means both interventions showed equal effect but results with in groups were significant. Conclusion: The study showed that treadmill training and stationary cycling training equally enhanced the gait ability and cardiovascular health of chronic stroke patients. Therefore, these exercises could be used to enhance walking and cardiovascular health in management of stroke. Keywords: treadmill training, stationary cycle training, ambulatory function, cardiovascular fitness, stroke

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document