title: Psychological benefits of virtual reality for patients in rehabilitation therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Whether virtual rehabilitation is beneficial has not been determined.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the psychological benefits of virtual reality in rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  An experimental group underwent therapy with a virtual-reality-based exercise bike, and a control group underwent the therapy without virtual-reality equipment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  30 patients suffering from spinal-cord injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  A designed rehabilitation therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endurance, Borg's rating-of-perceived-exertion scale, the Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List (AD-ACL), and the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The differences between the experimental and control groups were significant for AD-ACL calmness and tension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A virtual-reality-based rehabilitation program can ease patients' tension and induce calm.
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Central University, Chung-Li 32054, Taiwan.
authors: Chih-Hung
authors: CH
authors: Chen
authors: Ming-Chang
authors: MC
authors: Jeng
authors: Chin-Ping
authors: CP
authors: Fung
authors: Ji-Liang
authors: JL
authors: Doong
authors: Tien-Yow
authors: TY
authors: Chuang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001642:Bicycling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010807:Physical Endurance; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D014584:User-Computer Interface