The Academic College at Wingate, Wingate Institute, Netanya, Israel; The Israel Sport Center for the Disabled, Ramat Gan, Israel.
The Academic College at Wingate, Wingate Institute, Netanya, Israel; The Israel Sport Center for the Disabled, Ramat Gan, Israel.
J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2019 Nov;28(11):104343. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2019.104343. Epub 2019 Sep 5.
Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in the Western world, and leads to impaired balance and mobility.
To investigate the feasibility of using a Virtual Reality-based dual task of an upper extremity while treadmill walking, to improve gait and functional balance performance of chronic poststroke survivors.
Twenty-two individuals chronic poststroke participated in the study, and were divided into 2 groups (each group performing an 8-session exercise program): 11 participated in dual-task walking (DTW), and the other 11 participated in single-task treadmill walking (TMW). The study was a randomized controlled trial, with assessors blinded to the participants' allocated group. Measurements were conducted at pretest, post-test, and follow-up. Outcome measures included: the 10-m walking test (10 mW), Timed Up and Go (TUG), the Functional Reach Test (FRT), the Lateral Reach Test Left/Right (LRT-L/R); the Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale, and the Berg Balance Scale(BBS).
Improvements were observed in balance variables: BBS, FRT, LRT-L/R, (P < .01) favoring the DTW group; in gait variables: 10 mW time, also favoring the DTW group (P < .05); and the ABC scale (P < .01). No changes for interaction were observed in the TUG.
The results of this study demonstrate the potential of VR-based DTW to improve walking and balance in people after stroke; thus, it is suggested to combine training sessions that require the performance of multiple tasks at the same time.
中风是西方世界导致死亡和残疾的主要原因，会导致平衡和行动能力受损。
研究在上肢进行虚拟现实（VR）双重任务的同时在跑步机上行走，是否能改善慢性中风幸存者的步态和功能性平衡表现。
22 名慢性中风患者参与了这项研究，并被分为 2 组（每组进行 8 个疗程的锻炼计划）：11 名参与者进行双重任务行走（DTW），另外 11 名参与者进行单任务跑步机行走（TMW）。该研究是一项随机对照试验，评估者对参与者的分组情况不知情。测量在预测试、后测试和随访时进行。结果测量包括：10 米步行测试（10 mW）、计时起身行走测试（TUG）、功能性伸展测试（FRT）、左右侧方伸展测试（LRT-L/R）；活动特定平衡信心量表（ABC）和伯格平衡量表（BBS）。
平衡变量得到改善：BBS、FRT、LRT-L/R（P <.01），DTW 组占优势；步态变量得到改善：10 mW 时间，也有利于 DTW 组（P <.05）；ABC 量表（P <.01）。TUG 的交互作用没有变化。
本研究结果表明，基于 VR 的 DTW 有可能改善中风后的行走和平衡能力；因此，建议将需要同时执行多项任务的训练课程结合起来。
