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Original Research

Computerized cognitive training using virtual reality on everyday life activities for patients recovering from stroke

ORCID Icon, ORCID Icon, , , , , , , & show all
Pages 298-303 | Received 08 Jan 2020, Accepted 28 Mar 2020, Published online: 07 Apr 2020
 

Abstract

Purpose

Recent studies argue that the use of virtual reality tasks depicting activities daily living may be effective means for cognitive rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to test an ecologically oriented approach in virtual reality resembling the demands of everyday life activities for cognitive rehabilitation following stroke.

Materials and Methods

The sample comprised 30 sub-acute stroke patients recovering from stroke in a rehabilitation hospital. They were assessed in a single-arm pre-post intervention study on global cognition, executive functions, memory and attention abilities. The intervention consisted of virtual reality in a multidomain cognitive training approach depicting everyday life tasks (preparing food, choosing clothes, shopping, etc.).

Results

Improvements were found in the assessed cognitive domains at 6 to 10 post-treatment sessions. In-depth analysis through reliable change scores has suggested larger treatment effects on global cognition.

Conclusions

Overall results suggest that the use of virtual reality-based exercises on everyday life activities may be a useful cognitive rehabilitation approach to provide short-term gains in cognition following stroke.

    Implications for rehabilitation

  • Virtual reality-based cognitive rehabilitation resembling everyday life activities may provide short-term gains in cognition of stroke patients;

  • Consistent improvements in executive functions may require higher treatment dosage than for improvements in global cognition.

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the technicians from ULHT that participated in the development of the virtual reality exercises used in this study.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology of Portugal (FCT) under grant UIDB/05380/2020.

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