• Chan Wai Yin, Ng Yee Sien, Low Ai Ying, Stephanie Fook-Chong Man Chung, and Dawn Tan May Leng.
• Allied Health Division, Department of Occupational Therapy, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore yetta.chan.w.y@sgh.com.sg.
• Clin Rehabil. 2014 Nov 1; 28 (11): 1107-14.

ObjectivesTo investigate the effect of virtual reality (VR) rehabilitation on upper extremity motor performance of patients with early stroke.DesignPilot randomized controlled trial.SettingRehabilitation wards.ParticipantsTwenty three adults with stroke (mean age (SD) = 58.35 (13.45) years and mean time since stroke (SD) = 16.30 (7.44) days).InterventionsParticipants were randomly assigned to VR group (n=11) or control group (n=12). VR group received nine 30 minutes upper extremity VR therapy in standing (five weekdays in two weeks) plus conventional therapy, which included physical and occupational therapy. Control group received only conventional therapy, which was comparable to total training time received by VR group (mean training hours (SD):VR = 17.07 (2.86); control = 15.50 (2.79)).Main Outcome MeasuresThe main outcome measure was the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA). Secondary outcomes included Action Research Arm Test, Motor Activity Log and Functional Independence Measure. Results were taken at baseline, post intervention and 1-month post intervention. Participants' feedback and adverse effects were recorded.ResultsAll participants improved in FMA scores (mean change (SD) = 11.65 (8.56), P<.001). These effects were sustained at one month after intervention (mean (SD) change from baseline = 18.67 (13.26), P<.001). All other outcome measures showed similar patterns. There were no significant differences in improvement between both groups. Majority of the participants found VR training useful and enjoyable, with no serious adverse effects reported.ConclusionAlthough additional VR training was not superior to conventional therapy alone, this study demonstrates the feasibility of VR training in early stroke.© The Author(s) 2014.

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