The purpose of this study is to determine if a virtual reality training of foot placement with or without visual cues about the location of the foot in the environment would improve locomotion-related function in persons in the chronic stage of stroke. Participants were randomly assigned to receive twice per week, for a total of 2 weeks' training with visual cues (control group) or without (experimental group). It was hypothesized that the experimental group would be able to place the foot closer to the target when stepping and have more symmetrical gait. So far, 22 stroke patients completed the experiment. Preliminary results support the hypothesis. This project is still ongoing.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
60
The training is conducted in sitting and standing, and involves both the affected and unaffected foot placement. In the total immersive virtual environment, a target will be presented and the participants are required to move one foot to the target. The location of the moving foot is not seen by the participant in this training.
National Cheng Kung University
Tainan, Taiwan
RECRUITINGfoot placement accuracy (cm)
The distance between the foot and the target in various stepping tasks
Time frame: 2 weeks
gait symmetry
ratio of the two leg step lengths
Time frame: 2 weeks
exproprioception (cm)
the error in placing the unaffected foot at a location previously defined by the affected foot
Time frame: 2 weeks
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