Bilateral upper limb trainer with virtual reality for post-stroke rehabilitation: case series report

Abstract

Purpose. Stroke is a leading cause of disability with many survivors having upper limb (UL) hemiparesis. UL rehabilitation using bilateral exercise enhances outcomes and the Bilateral Upper Limb Trainer (BUiLT) was developed to provide symmetrical, bilateral arm exercise in a ‘forced’ and self-assistive manner, incorporating virtual reality (VR) to provide direction and task specificity to users as well as action observation–execution and greater motivation to exercise.

Methods. The BUiLT + VR system was trialled on five post-stroke participants with UL hemiparesis: one sub-acute and four chronic. The intervention was supplied for 45 min, 4 days/week for 6 weeks. The Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity score (FMA-UE) was used as the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcome measures used were UL isometric strength and the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) questionnaire.

Results. The BUiLT + VR therapy increased FMA-UE scores from 1 to 5 and overall strength in the shoulder and elbow. Motivation at the end of intervention was positive.

Conclusions. Therapy using the BUiLT + VR system is reliable, can be administered safely and has a positive trend of benefit as measured by the FMA-UE, isometric strength testing and IMI questionnaire.

Keywords:

• Stroke
• bilateral
• hemiparesis
• rehabilitation
• physical therapy
• upper limb
• virtual reality

Acknowledgements

Authors thank the Foundation for Research Science and Technology, NZ for funding this project, contract number C08X0816; the participants who willingly gave their time during the intervention; the Stroke Foundation of NZ and Dr Carl Hanger, Canterbury District Health Board for supporting this research and providing access to their clients; Cerebralfix (NZ) for developing the computer games.