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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2016:2016:6397828.
doi: 10.1155/2016/6397828. Epub 2016 Jan 18.

Effectiveness of the Virtual Reality System Toyra on Upper Limb Function in People with Tetraplegia: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial

I Dimbwadyo-Terrer  1 , A Gil-Agudo  2 , A Segura-Fragoso  3 , A de los Reyes-Guzmán  2 , F Trincado-Alonso  2 , S Piazza  4 , B Polonio-López  5
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effectiveness of the Virtual Reality System Toyra on Upper Limb Function in People with Tetraplegia: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial

I Dimbwadyo-Terrer et al. Biomed Res Int. 2016.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a virtual reality program combined with conventional therapy in upper limb function in people with tetraplegia and to provide data about patients' satisfaction with the virtual reality system. Thirty-one people with subacute complete cervical tetraplegia participated in the study. Experimental group received 15 sessions with Toyra(®) virtual reality system for 5 weeks, 30 minutes/day, 3 days/week in addition to conventional therapy, while control group only received conventional therapy. All patients were assessed at baseline, after intervention, and at three-month follow-up with a battery of clinical, functional, and satisfaction scales. Control group showed significant improvements in the manual muscle test (p = 0,043, partial η (2) = 0,22) in the follow-up evaluation. Both groups demonstrated clinical, but nonsignificant, changes to their arm function in 4 of the 5 scales used. All patients showed a high level of satisfaction with the virtual reality system. This study showed that virtual reality added to conventional therapy produces similar results in upper limb function compared to only conventional therapy. Moreover, the gaming aspects incorporated in conventional rehabilitation appear to produce high motivation during execution of the assigned tasks. This trial is registered with EudraCT number 2015-002157-35.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The flowchart of the trial according to the CONSORT statement. (CONSORT transparent reporting of trails, CONSORT 2010 Flow Diagram).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Virtual reality system Toyra. Arm movements are captured by Inertial Sensors Xsens (Xsens Inc., Netherlands). An avatar represents in real time and mirror view the movements of the user performing a task in the virtual scenario.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The graphs showed the tendency of the variables over the time in both groups.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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