title: The use of virtual reality-based therapy to augment poststroke upper limb recovery.
abstract: Stroke remains one of the major causes of disability worldwide. This case report illustrates the complementary use of biomechanical and kinematic in-game markers, in addition to standard clinical outcomes, to comprehensively assess and track a patient's disabilities. A 65-year-old patient was admitted for right-sided weakness and clinically diagnosed with acute ischaemic stroke. She participated in a short trial of standard stroke occupational therapy and physiotherapy with additional daily virtual reality (VR)-based therapy. Outcomes were tracked using kinematic data and conventional clinical assessments. Her Functional Independence Measure score improved from 87 to 113 and Fugl-Meyer motor score improved from 56 to 62, denoting clinically significant improvement. Corresponding kinematic analysis revealed improved hand path ratios and a decrease in velocity peaks. Further research is being undertaken to elucidate the optimal type, timing, setting and duration of VR-based therapy, as well as the use of neuropharmacological adjuncts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Geoffrey S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Samuel
authors.affiliation: Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Choo
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Wai Yin
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Pillar of Information Systems Technology and Design Department, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore.
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kok
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Yee Sien
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D020127:Recovery of Function; D020521:Stroke / Q000628:therapy*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018910:Video Games; D063367:Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy / Q000379:methods*
keywords: kinematics; stroke; virtual reality-based therapy