Pilot Study of Home-Based Virtual Reality Fitness Training in Post-Discharge Rehabilitation for Patients with Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized Double-Blind Multicenter Trial.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) patients require continuous rehabilitation post-discharge to ensure optimal recovery. This study investigates the effectiveness of home-based virtual reality fitness training (VRFT) as a convenient and accessible rehabilitation method for SCI patients. This randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial will enroll 120 participants, assigning them to either an 8-week VRFT program (exercise group) or a control group engaging in regular daily activities.

Effectiveness of Exercise Programs for Alleviation of Upper Body Pain in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review.

Upper body pain, particularly in the limbs and shoulders, is a common symptom among patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and wheelchair users. Despite the focus on resistance muscle training as a suitable intervention for SCI individuals, findings across different populations and conditions have been inconsistent. We conducted a systematic review to elucidate the correlations among exercise interventions, muscle strength enhancement, and pain reduction.

Creating a Rehabilitation Sports Public Service Information Systems Using Service Design Thinking: Physical Activity Management of the Disabled after Discharge in the Republic of Korea.

The Republic of Korea has established an institutional framework to expedite the provision of rehabilitation sports public services to individuals with disabilities post-hospital discharge (Act on Guarantee of Right to Health and Access to Health Services for People with Disabilities in December 2017). Regrettably, this service remains non-operational to date. This study employs a service design approach to identify and develop essential elements for the effective implementation of public rehabilitation sports services in Korea.

A study on the four-phase design and development process of 3D printed foot-operated safety nail clipper for people with stroke hemiplegia.

Purpose: Cutting nails is an essential activity of daily living. In this study, a foot-operated safety nail clipper for people with stroke hemiplegia was developed in four phases using three-dimensional (3D) printing technology.

Materials And Methods: A user was identified to develop a foot-operated, safe nail clipper for people with stroke hemiplegia (Phase 1).

Predicting adoption of the assistive technology open platform: extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology.

Purpose: The Assistive Technology (AT) Open Platform supports people with disabilities, older people, and developers in co-creating new assistive products outside the business realm. To address dissatisfaction with and non-adoption of commercial assistive products, the National Rehabilitation Centre in South Korea created an AT Open Platform as an open-source AT sharing platform to research and develop appropriate assistive technology suitable for users' needs. The emerging concept of AT Open Platform is new for both assistive product users and developers in South Korea.

Home-Based Virtual Reality Exergame Program after Stroke Rehabilitation for Patients with Stroke: A Study Protocol for a Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial.

It is essential for stroke patients to maintain their therapy even after discharging inpatient rehabilitation. This is because recovery is an ongoing process that requires consistent effort. Virtual reality exergame training (VRET) is becoming widely used in stroke rehabilitation to improve physical, social, and psychological outcomes.

Development of a Set of Assessment Tools for Health Professionals to Design a Tailored Rehabilitation Exercise and Sports Program for People with Stroke in South Korea: A Delphi Study.

We developed a set of assessment tools for health professionals to evaluate the physical functions, mental functions, and social abilities of people with stroke (PWS) from 6 months to 3 years after stroke onset, to design a tailored "Rehabilitation Exercise and Sports" (RES) program, which the South Korean government was required to provide by the Act on Guarantee of Right to Health and Access to Health Services for people with disabilities. Since previous studies mainly dealt with the chronic stage of PWS, it would not be appropriate to apply assessment tools used in previous studies, as they are not compatible with the time window (6 months to 3 years) used to define the target population of the RES program. We reviewed the literature to identify evaluation factors and assessment tools applied in previous studies, and developed a Delphi questionnaire with closed-ended questions based on the literature review's results and supplementary open-ended questions.

Protocol for Community-Based Exercise Training after Discharge from Hospital-Based Stroke Rehabilitation: A Multicenter, Randomized, Parallel-Group, Double-Blind Controlled Pilot and Feasibility Trial.

Exercise training participation of patients with stroke in the community after discharge from the hospital has many benefits for physical, social, and psychological rehabilitation and improves their quality of life. However, in the Republic of Korea, studies on stroke survivors who can participate in an exercise training program have not been conducted. This trial aims to investigate the effectiveness of exercise training programs after patients with stroke are discharged from the hospital with a doctor's note and referred to a community exercise center, as there is a lack of studies on this population.

The efficacy of community-based exercise programs on circulating irisin level, muscle strength, cardiorespiratory endurance, and body composition for ischemic stroke: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: We investigated the changes in circulating irisin levels after community-based exercise and the association of these levels with improvements in muscle strength, cardiorespiratory endurance, and body composition in people with ischemic stroke.

Methods: Twenty participants were randomly assigned to either a control or an exercise group. The community-based exercise program (CEP) consisted of 8 weeks of 1 h sessions for 3 days a week.

A preliminary study on the feasibility of community game-based respiratory muscle training for individuals with high cervical spinal cord injury levels: a novel approach.

Background: Respiratory disorders result in rehospitalization and premature death of patients with cervical spinal cord injuries (CSCI). Community game-based respiratory muscle training (RMT) programs could reduce secondary complications.

Methods: We examined the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of RMT as a community-based exercise program.

Effects of Resistance Circuit Training on Health-Related Physical Fitness in People With Paraplegia: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 8 weeks of resistance circuit training in people with paraplegia due to spinal cord injury.

Methods: Participants were randomized into experimental and control groups. Although the intensity and sequence of movements of the exercise programs were identical in both groups, the resting time between sets was limited to 1 minute in the experimental group.

Evaluation of expert views and considerations to develop rehabilitation sports public services for persons with disabilities in Republic of Korea: a Delphi study.

Background: Physical activity is required to maintain health; however, resources needed for physical activity (e.g. facilities, instructors, and programmes) are scarce for persons with disabilities (PWD), particularly those who require rehabilitation following hospital discharge and those with severe disabilities.

Development and pilot testing of novel game-based respiratory rehabilitation exercise devices for patients with tetraplegia.

Background: Individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI) show restricted breathing patterns with reduced lung volumes and capacities.

Objective: To improve breathing in such individuals, we aimed to develop breathing exercise devices using a user-centered design (UCD) and then assess the effects of these devices on breathing.

Methods: Patients with SCI were involved in the device development.

Comparing the effects of multicomponent exercise with or without power training on the cardiorespiratory fitness, physical function, and muscular strength of patients with stroke: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Literature studies concerning the effect of implementing a multicomponent program with different individual exercise intensities are insufficient. This study aimed to examine the effects of performing a multicomponent exercise program incorporating high-speed power training on cardiorespiratory fitness, physical function, and muscular strength in poststroke patients. We compared the results of two different exercise regimens: high-speed power training and traditional low-speed strength training.

Development and Evaluation of a Classified and Tailored Community-Based Exercise Program According to the Mobility Level of People with Stroke Using the Knowledge to Action Framework.

Attempts to classify the mobility levels of people with stroke (PWS) for a tailored exercise program in community settings have been few. We developed and evaluated a classified and tailored community-based (CTC) exercise program according to the mobility level of PWS. Forty-two PWS were classified into the Supine and Sitting, Sitting and Standing, and Standing and Gait groups, based on a newly developed classification model and participated in a group-based CTC exercise program for 1 h/day twice/week for 10 weeks.

A Further Step to Develop Patient-Friendly Implementation Strategies for Virtual Reality-Based Rehabilitation in Patients With Acute Stroke.

Background: Virtual reality (VR)-based rehabilitation is gaining attention as a way to promote early mobilization in patients with acute stroke. However, given the motor weakness and cognitive impairment associated with acute stroke, implementation strategies for overcoming patient-perceived difficulty need to be developed to enhance their motivation for training.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore patient-perceived difficulty and enjoyment during VR-based rehabilitation and the factors affecting those experiences.

Patient perspectives on virtual reality-based rehabilitation after knee surgery: Importance of level of difficulty.

This article explored the perspectives of 25 patients regarding virtual reality (VR)-based rehabilitation following knee surgery and identified the important factors that allowed patients to immerse themselves in rehabilitation. Qualitative analysis of data collected via open-ended questionnaire and quantitative analysis of data from physical assessments and surveys were conducted. In the open-ended questionnaire, the majority of participants mentioned level of difficulty as the most common reason for selecting both the most and the least immersive exercise programs.