A low cost virtual reality system for home based rehabilitation of the arm following stroke: A randomised controlled feasibility trial

You will have to send your doctor after the equipment used and the stroke protocols for them to be able to duplicate results in their clinic. No attempt to do that, call up the hospital president and ask why such incompetent doctors are allowed to practice there. I'm deadly serious here. W need to weed out the incompetency in all areas of stroke.
http://cre.sagepub.com/content/early/2016/03/29/0269215516640320.full

1. PJ Standen1⇑
2. K Threapleton2
3. A Richardson3
4. L Connell4
5. DJ Brown5
6. S Battersby5
7. F Platts6
8. A Burton5

1. ¹Division of Rehabilitation and Ageing, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
2. ²School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
3. ³Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Trust, Integrated Community Therapy Team, St. Oswalds Hospital, Ashbourne, UK
4. ⁴School of Nursing, University of Central Lancashire, Lancashire, UK
5. ⁵Computing and Technology Team, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
6. ⁶Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Mansfield Community Hospital, Nottinghamshire, UK

1. PJ Standen, Division of Rehabilitation and Ageing, University of Nottingham, QMC, Clifton Boulevard, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK. Email: P.Standen@nottingham.ac.uk

 

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Abstract

Objective: To assess the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial of a home-based virtual reality system for rehabilitation of the arm following stroke.

Design: Two group feasibility randomised controlled trial of intervention versus usual care.

Setting: Patients’ homes.

Participants: Patients aged 18 or over, with residual arm dysfunction following stroke and no longer receiving any other intensive rehabilitation.

Interventions: Eight weeks’ use of a low cost home-based virtual reality system employing infra-red capture to translate the position of the hand into game play or usual care.

Main measures: The primary objective was to collect information on the feasibility of a trial, including recruitment, collection of outcome measures and staff support required. Patients were assessed at three time points using the Wolf Motor Function Test, Nine-Hole Peg Test, Motor Activity Log and Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living.

Results: Over 15 months only 47 people were referred to the team. Twenty seven were randomised and 18 (67%) of those completed final outcome measures. Sample size calculation based on data from the Wolf Motor Function Test indicated a requirement for 38 per group. There was a significantly greater change from baseline in the intervention group on midpoint Wolf Grip strength and two subscales of the final Motor Activity Log. Training in the use of the equipment took a median of 230 minutes per patient.

Conclusions: To achieve the required sample size, a definitive home-based trial would require additional strategies to boost recruitment rates and adequate resources for patient support. 

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