title: Virtual reality training for upper extremity in subacute stroke (VIRTUES): study protocol for a randomized controlled multicenter trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Novel virtual reality rehabilitation systems provide the potential to increase intensity and offer challenging and motivating tasks. The efficacy of virtual reality systems to improve arm motor function early after stroke has not been demonstrated yet in sufficiently powered studies. The objective of the study is to investigate whether VR training as an adjunct to conventional therapy is more effective in improving arm motor function in the subacute phase after stroke than dose-matched conventional training, to assess patient and therapist satisfaction when working with novel virtual reality training and to calculate cost-effectiveness in terms of resources required to regain some degree of dexterity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled observer-blind trial.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Virtual reality systems are promising tools for rehabilitation of arm motor function after stroke. Their introduction in combination with traditional physical and occupational therapy may enhance recovery after stroke, and at the same time demand little personnel resources to increase training intensity. The VIRTUES trial will provide further evidence of VR-based treatment strategies to clinicians, patients and health economists.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02079103.
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brunner
authors.forename: Jan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Skouen
authors.forename: Håkon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hofstad
authors.forename: Liv I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Strand
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Anne-Marthe
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pallesen
authors.forename: Tove
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kristensen
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michielsen
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Verheyden
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D014584:User-Computer Interface