title: Adaptive mixed reality rehabilitation improves quality of reaching movements more than traditional reaching therapy following stroke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adaptive mixed reality rehabilitation (AMRR) is a novel integration of motion capture technology and high-level media computing that provides precise kinematic measurements and engaging multimodal feedback for self-assessment during a therapeutic task.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We describe the first proof-of-concept study to compare outcomes of AMRR and traditional upper-extremity physical therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two groups of participants with chronic stroke received either a month of AMRR therapy (n = 11) or matched dosing of traditional repetitive task therapy (n = 10). Participants were right handed, between 35 and 85 years old, and could independently reach to and at least partially grasp an object in front of them. Upper-extremity clinical scale scores and kinematic performances were measured before and after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups showed increased function after therapy, demonstrated by statistically significant improvements in Wolf Motor Function Test and upper-extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) scores, with the traditional therapy group improving significantly more on the FMA. However, only participants who received AMRR therapy showed a consistent improvement in kinematic measurements, both for the trained task of reaching to grasp a cone and the untrained task of reaching to push a lighted button.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AMRR may be useful in improving both functionality and the kinematics of reaching. Further study is needed to determine if AMRR therapy induces long-term changes in movement quality that foster better functional recovery.
authors.affiliation: School of Arts, Media and Engineering, School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-8709, USA. margaret.duff@asu.edu
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duff
authors.forename: Yinpeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Sheng-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Thanassis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rikakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*