title: Novel virtual reality system integrating online self-face viewing and mirror visual feedback for stroke rehabilitation: rationale and feasibility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To introduce the rationale of a novel virtual reality system based on self-face viewing and mirror visual feedback, and to examine its feasibility as a rehabilitation tool for poststroke patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A novel motion capture virtual reality system integrating online self-face viewing and mirror visual feedback has been developed for stroke rehabilitation.The system allows the replacement of the impaired arm by a virtual arm. Upon making small movements of the paretic arm, patients view themselves virtually performing healthy full-range movements. A sample of 6 patients in the acute poststroke phase received the virtual reality treatment concomitantly with conservative rehabilitation treatment. Feasibility was assessed during 10 sessions for each participant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All participants succeeded in operating the system, demonstrating its feasibility in terms of adherence and improvement in task performance. Patients' performance within the virtual environment and a set of clinical-functional measures recorded before the virtual reality treatment, at 1 week, and after 3 months indicated neurological status and general functioning improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary results indicate that this newly developed virtual reality system is safe and feasible. Future randomized controlled studies are required to assess whether this system has beneficial effects in terms of enhancing upper limb function and quality of life in poststroke patients.
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hadassah University Hospital, Mount Scopus, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors: Shimon
authors: S
authors: Shiri
authors: Uri
authors: U
authors: Feintuch
authors: Adi
authors: A
authors: Lorber-Haddad
authors: Elior
authors: E
authors: Moreh
authors: Dvora
authors: D
authors: Twito
authors: Maya
authors: M
authors: Tuchner-Arieli
authors: Zeev
authors: Z
authors: Meiner
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D056228:Feedback, Sensory; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D053580:Muscle Strength; D009862:Online Systems; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014584:User-Computer Interface