Virtual reality for the rehabilitation of the upper limb motor function after stroke: a prospective controlled trial.

Background: Recent evidence has demonstrated the efficacy of Virtual Reality (VR) for stroke rehabilitation nonetheless its benefits and limitations in large population of patients have not yet been studied.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of non-immersive VR treatment for the restoration of the upper limb motor function and its impact on the activities of daily living capacities in post-stroke patients.

Methods: A pragmatic clinical trial was conducted among post-stroke patients admitted to our rehabilitation hospital.

Motor learning principles for rehabilitation: a pilot randomized controlled study in poststroke patients.

Background: Six months after a stroke, the hemiplegic arm often remains compromised. More innovative approaches to motor rehabilitation are needed.

Objective: The authors compared a motor learning-based approach in a virtual environment with more conventional upper extremity therapy in a pilot trial.

Exercises for paretic upper limb after stroke: a combined virtual-reality and telemedicine approach.

Objective: Telerehabilitation enables a remotely controlled programme to be used to treat motor deficits in post-stroke patients. The effects of this telerehabilitation approach were compared with traditional motor rehabilitation methods.

Design: Randomized single-blind controlled trial.

Assessment and treatment of the upper limb by means of virtual reality in post-stroke patients.

The disability deriving from stroke impacts heavily on the economic and social aspects of western countries because stroke survivors commonly experience various degrees of autonomy reduction in the activities of daily living. Recent developments in neuroscience, neurophysiology and computational science have led to innovative theories about the brain mechanisms of the motor system. Thereafter, innovative, scientifically based therapeutic strategies have initially arisen in the rehabilitation field.

The augmented-feedback rehabilitation technique facilitates the arm motor recovery in patients after a recent stroke.

Previous studies have shown that the motor training in a virtual-environment with the augmented feedback promotes motor learning in normal subjects and in long-term post-stroke patients. We evaluated whether this approach could be useful also for treating patients with arm motor deficits due to a recent stroke. Twenty-four patients were included in the study within 3 months from an ischemic stroke in the territory of the middle cerebral artery.