TY - JOUR
T1 - Rehabilitation of children with hemiparesis
T2 - A pilot study on the use of virtual reality
AU - Olivieri, Ivana
AU - Chiappedi, Matteo
AU - Meriggi, Paolo
AU - Mazzola, Marcella
AU - Grandi, Attilia
AU - Angelini, Lucia
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Background. A wide range of treatments have been used to improve upper arm motor performances in children with congenital hemiplegia. Recent findings are suggesting that virtual reality based intervention could be a promising tool also in pediatric rehabilitation. Methods. Six patients with congenital hemiplegia (age: 4-16 years) were recruited among those treated in the Child Neuropsychiatry and Rehabilitation Unit of the IRCCS "Santa Maria Nascente" (Milan, Italy), for a preliminary investigation about using nonimmersive virtual reality for upper limb rehabilitation. Ten sessions using VRRS system (Khymeia, Padova, Italy) were weekly administered as a part of the rehabilitative treatment. Melbourne Assessment of Unilateral Limb Movement, Ashworth Scale, and Arm's PROM were selected as main outcome measures. At the end of treatment, participants filled in an ad hoc satisfaction questionnaire. Results. All subjects completed the proposed treatment, and they also gave a positive judgment regarding this rehabilitative method. Melbourne score increased in all patients. Conclusion. Our findings seem to support the evidence that VR treatment could be a promising and engaging tool for pediatric rehabilitation. However, the limited size of the population and the small number of sessions require further investigations and RCTs to confirm our positive results.
AB - Background. A wide range of treatments have been used to improve upper arm motor performances in children with congenital hemiplegia. Recent findings are suggesting that virtual reality based intervention could be a promising tool also in pediatric rehabilitation. Methods. Six patients with congenital hemiplegia (age: 4-16 years) were recruited among those treated in the Child Neuropsychiatry and Rehabilitation Unit of the IRCCS "Santa Maria Nascente" (Milan, Italy), for a preliminary investigation about using nonimmersive virtual reality for upper limb rehabilitation. Ten sessions using VRRS system (Khymeia, Padova, Italy) were weekly administered as a part of the rehabilitative treatment. Melbourne Assessment of Unilateral Limb Movement, Ashworth Scale, and Arm's PROM were selected as main outcome measures. At the end of treatment, participants filled in an ad hoc satisfaction questionnaire. Results. All subjects completed the proposed treatment, and they also gave a positive judgment regarding this rehabilitative method. Melbourne score increased in all patients. Conclusion. Our findings seem to support the evidence that VR treatment could be a promising and engaging tool for pediatric rehabilitation. However, the limited size of the population and the small number of sessions require further investigations and RCTs to confirm our positive results.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84886489145&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84886489145&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1155/2013/695935
DO - 10.1155/2013/695935
M3 - Article
C2 - 24199197
AN - SCOPUS:84886489145
VL - 2013
JO - BioMed Research International
JF - BioMed Research International
SN - 2314-6133
M1 - 695935
ER -