Effects Of Virtual Reality Training Combined With Task-oriented Training On Upper Limb Function In Stroke Patients

Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of virtual reality training combined with task-oriented training on upper limb function in stroke patients,so as to provide a new method for improving upper limb function in stroke patients.Methods According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,40 stroke patients were enrolled and randomly divided into experimental group and control group,with 20 patients in each group.Both groups received the same conventional treatment,including drug treatment and physical therapy.On the basis of conventional treatment,the control group received task-oriented training twice a day(once in the morning,once in the afternoon)each time for 30 minutes.The patients of experimental group were given task-oriented training once a day for 30 minutes(in the morning),as well as virtual reality training once a day for 30 minutes(in the afternoon).Patients in both groups were received training for 4 weeks in the form of 5 times each week.All the patients were assessed with Fugl-Meyer assessment for Upper Extremity(FMA-UE),Hong Kong version of the Functional Test for the Hemiplegic Upper Extremity(FTHUE-HK),Modified Barthel Index(MBI)and Stroke Impact Scale(SIS)to measure upper limb function,activity of daily living and quality of life before and at the end of 4-week intervention.Results There were no significant differences between two groups in general information(age,gender,course of disease,lesion location and lesion nature)and each score(FMA-UE,FTHUE-HK,MBI and SIS)before treatment(P>0.05).Significant increases were found in FMA-UE,FTHUE-HK,MBI and SIS scores in both groups after 4 weeks training(P<0.05),and the FMA-UE,FTHUE-HK,MBI scores in experimental group were significantly higher than control group,the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).After 4 weeks training,although SIS scores of strength,hand function,ADL domains in experimental group were significantly higher than control group(P<0.05),no significant difference were found between two groups regarding SIS scores of mobility domain(P>0.05).Conclusion Virtual reality training combined with task-oriented training can effectively improve upper limb function,ability of daily living and quality of life in stroke patients,and the effects were better than task-oriented training except the mobility domain of quality of life which was as effective as task-oriented training.