Virtual Reality Mirror Therapy for Stroke
- Conditions
- Stroke
- Interventions
- Device: Virtual Reality Mirror Therapy
- Registration Number
- NCT03582397
- Lead Sponsor
- Columbia University
- Brief Summary
Mirror box therapy is a treatment option that has shown promise for people with difficulty moving their arm after a brain injury, such as stroke. During mirror box therapy, people place their affected arm inside a box, where they are unable to see it. They then focus their attention on the outside of the box, which has been fitted with a mirror. The mirror reflects the movements of their intact hand and makes it appear that both hands are moving normally. Research has shown that this type of therapy can help people recover some use of the arm.
This study is designed to examine a new type of treatment, which uses a virtual reality headset (Oculus Rift) to recreate this effect in a virtual environment. Up to twenty people who have had a stroke and now have difficulty using an arm (Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity range 10-50) will be asked to come in for four weeks of treatment, during which they will perform a set of movements and games using the virtual reality platform, while focusing on the image of their affected arm. Treatment will include two fifteen minute sessions, three times/week for a period of four weeks. Participants will complete pre-testing, which will provide a baseline measure of performance, and post-testing, to see if the treatment has been well-tolerated and has had any impact on their motor performance.
This research is important because it may demonstrate the usefulness of a new treatment method for people who have suffered a stroke, or generally demonstrate that virtual reality platforms may be useful treatment tools for stroke survivors. It may also provide a relatively low-cost and motivating rehabilitation tool for use in the hospital or home environment outside of therapy hours.
- Detailed Description
Up to twenty stroke survivors with upper extremity impairment will be enrolled in this study. After subjects have been consented, they will undergo screening to ensure they meet inclusion/exclusion criteria. This will include the Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire (Short Form). Demographics will be recorded including: relevant medical history (including any contraindications to engage in virtual reality therapy), age, gender, hand dominance, and location and date of stroke. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment will be performed to assess feasibility of the intervention for subjects of varying cognitive levels. Subjects who meet study requirements and score between 10-50 points on the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Motor Recovery after Stroke (Arm/hand section) will complete pre-testing using the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT).
Virtual reality mirror therapy will be delivered via the commercially available Oculus Rift gaming system, using novel software (WiseMind), developed by Realiteer. Subjects will complete treatment in a designated space clear of distractions and physical objects. They will remain seated in a chair throughout treatment.
A member of the research team will configure the system, entering in the subject's skin tone, height, and weight to enable the system to best approximate their physical form. The subject will then don the Oculus Rift headset, which will block external visual stimuli and provide an immersive visual environment for training. Researchers will position game controller using a wrist strap to ensure patient safety. Researchers will orient subjects to the training environment and ensure patient comfort with the system before initiating treatment. Patients will complete a System Usability Scale and the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire on the first and final treatment day to assess system tolerance. Adherence and adverse events will also be recorded throughout the trial.
The WiseMind software will allow subjects to view an approximation of their upper limbs. As the subject moves their arms, the system will detect these movements and mimic them through the headset, so the patient envisions a virtual limb moving as their own. Training will incorporate range of motion exercises, virtual reality games that require reaching, and interacting with functional objects in the virtual environment.
An occupational therapist, physical therapist or exercise physiologist from the research team will run all treatment sessions. Training will be immediately terminated if the subject feels excessively queasy or requests termination for any reason. Training will consist of two, fifteen minute sessions, 3x/week for four weeks.
At the completion of treatment, subjects will repeat the Fugl-Meyer and ARAT assessments to determine if improvements have been made in motor performance.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 11
- History of one or more ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke
- Reduced use/weakness of the arm
- Ability to follow two-step commands
- Ability to provide informed consent
- Fugl-Meyer Arm/Hand score between 10-50
- Serious visual or visual-perceptual deficits, neuropsychological impairments, or orthopedic conditions that would prevent participation in the protocol as determined by the treatment team
- Concurrent participation in another study protocol related to motor function after stroke
- High susceptibility to motion sickness, as evidence by a score of 26 or greater on the Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire Short-Form (90th percentile)
- Receiving ongoing occupational or physical therapy for upper limb motor retraining
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- SINGLE_GROUP
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Experimental Virtual Reality Mirror Therapy Subjects to receive virtual reality mirror therapy via WiseMind Software (Realiteer) 3x/week for 4 weeks.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in tolerance of system 20 Weeks Simulator Sickness Questionnaire Scores following 1st treatment session, compared to 12th treatment session. Self-report checklist to screen for adverse symptoms following simulations. Scores range from 0-26, with higher scores indicating increased physical symptoms and poorer tolerance for the intervention.
Adverse Event Tracking 20 weeks Researchers to track observed or reported adverse events related to the intervention. Higher number of adverse events indicates poorer tolerance of intervention.
Initial Tolerance of System Treatment Day 1 Simulator sickness questionnaire. Self-report checklist to screen for adverse symptoms following simulations. Scores range from 0-26, with higher scores indicating increased physical symptoms and poorer tolerance for the intervention.
Initial Perception of System Usability Treatment Day 1 System Usability Scale: Subject questionnaire to assess ease of use of the system. Scores range from 0-100, with higher scores indicating greater usability.
Change in Perception of System Usability 20 Weeks System Usability Scale: Subject questionnaire to assess ease of use of the system. Scores range from 0-100, with higher scores indicating greater usability. Score on final treatment day (session 12) to be compared with score from treatment session 1.
Adherence Up to 20 weeks. Percentage of intervention visits completed (full 30 minute period) with a higher percentage indicating stronger adherence.
Montreal Cognitive Assessment Baseline visit Cognitive screening tool. Scores range from 0-30, with a score of 26 or above indicating "normal" cognition. This will be used to ascertain feasibility of the intervention for patients of various cognitive levels.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Motor Recovery after Stroke (arm/hand section) Baseline study visit and following treatment completion, up to 20 weeks. Standardized test of upper extremity motor function following stroke. Scores range from 0-66 for this section of the Fugl-Meyer, with higher scores indicating better motor function.
Action Research Arm Test Baseline study visit and following treatment completion, up to 20 weeks. Standardized test of hand and arm function. Scores range from 0-57, with higher scores indicating enhanced motor performance.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Columbia University Medical Center
🇺🇸New York, New York, United States