Video game-based and conventional therapies in patients of neurological deficits: an experimental study

Abstract

Purpose

In the past few years, medicine has upgraded its therapeutic techniques and practices, with the use of various modern methods that are due to advancement in technology and sciences. It is recognized that the physical health of the patients is significantly associated to their mental state, their motivation and engagement in overcoming the illness. This paper presents experimental comparison between virtual reality (VR) technology and conventional mode of therapy for physical rehabilitation among patients of neurological deficits. The objective was to explore the effectiveness of VR during physical interactions with different game-like virtual environment and potentially leading to increased mental health (i.e., lower depression, anxiety and stress), self-esteem, social support and intrinsic motivation (task-based competence, choice and interest).

Method

The study sample consisted of thirty-four subjects with Cerebral palsy (CP), Traumatic brain injury (TBI), Spinal cord injury, Stroke and Parkinson’s disease; divided into two experimental groups virtual reality exercise group (n = 17), and conventional therapy group (n = 17); who have upper- or lower-limb impairment.

Results

The outcome measures revealed significant differences across pretest and post-test conditions of both the experimental groups. Findings emerged from the study showed noticeable effectiveness of virtual-reality based rehabilitation in TBI, stroke and CP patients. Relationships between study variables and demographic variables (age and gender) were also presented.

Conclusion

This study opens the way for future researchers, psychologists, physiotherapist and other practitioners to do more extensive work in the domain of virtual reality with different sample, constructs and approaches.

Implications for rehabilitation

• It has become increasing important to introduce new state-to-art technologies in domain of rehabilitation.

• People are reluctant to use all the traditional modes of treatment. As these conventional ways of treatment are least motivating and interesting to indulge the patients without force and burden. It is evident in the present study that addition of virtual reality-based exercise increases the self-motivated balance during functional task in contrast to conventional and task-dependent training participants.

• This study opens the way for future researchers to do more extensive work in this domain.

Keywords:

• Virtual Reality (VR)
• MIRA (Medical Interactive Rehabilitation Assistant)
• physical disability
• mental health
• self-esteem
• motivation

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Armed Force Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (ARIRM), Rawalpindi, Pakistan; for providing hardware, software and mechanical development proficiency for this project.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

The authors wish to confirm that there are no known conflicts of interest associated with this publication and there has been no significant financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome.

The authors confirm that the manuscript has been read and approved by all named authors and that there are no other persons who satisfied the criteria for authorship but are not listed. The authors further confirm that the order of authors listed in the manuscript has been approved by all of us.

The authors confirm that they have given due consideration to the protection of intellectual property associated with this work and that there are no impediments to publication, including the timing of publication, with respect to intellectual property. In so doing authors confirm that we have followed the regulations of our institutions concerning intellectual property.

The authors further confirm that any aspect of the work covered in this manuscript that has involved either experimental animals or human patients has been conducted with the ethical approval of all relevant bodies and that such approvals are acknowledged within the manuscript.

The authors understand that the Corresponding Author is the sole contact for the Editorial process (including Editorial Manager and direct communications with the office). She is responsible for communicating with the other authors about progress, submissions of revisions and final approval of proofs. The authors confirm that they have provided a current, correct email address which is accessible by the Corresponding Author and which has been configured to accept email from [email protected].

• Umm Eman Syed (1st Author).

• Anila Kamal (2nd and Corresponding Author).