Evaluation of motor performances of hemiplegic patients using a virtual cycling wheelchair: an exploratory trial.

Cycling is known to be an effective rehabilitation exercise for hemiplegic patients who face difficulty during walking because of stroke or other brain disorders. A cycling wheelchair (CWC) is a useful tool to provide exercise for these patients and improve their quality of life. In previous studies, our group developed a system that allows patients to safely practice driving a CWC in a virtual environment.

Development of a virtual reality system to evaluate skills needed to drive a cycling wheel-chair.

A cycling wheel chair (CWC) is a useful tool to provide physical exercise for patients who face difficulty walking, caused by stroke or other brain disorders. A system has been developed for rehabilitation, which allows patients to practice driving a CWC in a virtual environment. In this study, hardware improvements were developed and methods for evaluating driving skills were investigated to improve the practical application of this system.