title: A novel virtual motor rehabilitation system for Guillain-Barré syndrome. Two single case studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This article is part of the Focus Theme of Methods of Information in Medicine on "New Methodologies for Patients Rehabilitation".
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  For Guillain-Barré patients, motor rehabilitation programs are helpful at the onset to prevent the complications of paralysis and in cases of persistent motor impairment. Traditional motor rehabilitation programs may be tedious and monotonous, resulting in low adherence to the treatments. A Virtual Motor Rehabilitation system has been tested in Guillain-Barré patients to increase patient adherence and to improve clinical results.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two people with Guillain-Barré performed 20 rehabilitation sessions. We tested a novel system based on Motor Virtual Rehabilitation in three periods of time (baseline evaluation, final evaluation, and follow-up. In the training program, the participants carried out a specific treatment using the Active Balance Rehabilitation system (ABAR). The system is composed of customizable virtual games to perform static and dynamic balance rehabilitation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant improvements in clinical results were obtained by both participants, with significant results in the static balance clinical test of the Anterior Reach test in the standing position and unipedal stance time. Other significant results were found in dynamic balance clinical tests in the Berg Balance Scale test and the 30-second Sit-to-Stand test. With regard to acceptance of the system, both patients enjoyed the experience, and both patients thought that this system was helpful for their rehabilitation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that Virtual Motor Rehabilitation for Guillain-Barré patients provides clinical improvements in an entertaining way.
authors.affiliation: Sergio Albiol-Pérez, Dpto. de Informática e Ingeniería de Sistemas, Universidad de Zaragoza, Ciudad Escolar s/n, 44003, Teruel, Spain, E-mail: salbiol@unizar.es.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Albiol-Pérez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Forcano-García
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Tomás
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Manzano-Fernández
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Solsona-Hernández
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mashat
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gil-Gómez
mesh_terms: D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014584:User-Computer Interface
keywords: Guillain-Barré; balance disorders; balance rehabilitation; postural control; virtual motor rehabilitation; virtual reality