Dataset Information

Combining Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation and Virtual Reality for Improving Sensorimotor Function in Stroke Survivors: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

ABSTRACT: Aim:To assess a program combining virtual reality (VR) games and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and to compare it with the standalone techniques in stroke survivors. Methods:A randomized controlled clinical trial. A total of 48 participants were recruited in the outpatient clinic of a University Hospital in Salvador, Brazil. They were randomly assigned to 3 groups (n?=?16 each): PNF, VR, and PNF/VR. Participants attended twice-weekly 50-minute sessions over a 2-month period. The PNF/VR group performed both PNF and VR exercises employing Nintendo Wii electronic games. Motor performance was assessed before and immediately after the treatment using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale. Results:An improvement in the mean scores was observed after treatment independent of the allocation group with significant intragroup changes: 14.5, 10.5, and 10.4 for PNF, VR, and PNF/VR, respectively. Score changes were also observed in the analyses of specific sections as follows: (1) a significant improvement in the passive movement and pain score was observed in the PNF and PNF/VR groups; (2) the same was observed for the motor function of the upper limb in all groups, for the motor function of the lower limb in the VR group and for balance in the PNF and PNF/VR groups. Conclusions:The use of a program combining virtual rehabilitation and PNF presented results that were comparable with those obtained with the isolated techniques.

SUBMITTER: Junior VADS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6659177 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Combining Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation and Virtual Reality for Improving Sensorimotor Function in Stroke Survivors: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Junior Vitor Antônio Dos Santos VADS Santos Matheus de Sales MS Ribeiro Nildo Manoel da Silva NMDS Maldonado Igor Lima IL

Journal of central nervous system disease 20190725

<h4>Aim</h4>To assess a program combining virtual reality (VR) games and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and to compare it with the standalone techniques in stroke survivors.<h4>Methods</h4>A randomized controlled clinical trial. A total of 48 participants were recruited in the outpatient clinic of a University Hospital in Salvador, Brazil. They were randomly assigned to 3 groups (n = 16 each): PNF, VR, and PNF/VR. Participants attended twice-weekly 50-minute sessions over a 2-mo ...[more]

PMID: 31384139

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Project description:BackgroundBalance control has been shown to play a fundamental role both in everyday life and many athletic activities. An important component of balance control is the somatosensory information gained from muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs. The changes in the muscle-tendon unit stiffness could alter the ability to detect and respond promptly to changes of an unstable environment. One of the procedures affecting muscle stiffness is stretching, and contract-relax PNF stretching (CRS) is considered as one of the safest and most effective techniques. So far, there are no studies on the impact of CRS of hip adductor and abductor muscles on body balance. These muscle groups are responsible for maintaining mediolateral balance which is of particular interest, since it is more affected by ageing and disease and since its deterioration has been associated with an increased risk of falling. In light of the above, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a single dose of contract-relax proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching of hip adductors and abductors on mediolateral dynamic balance.MethodsThe study involved 45 healthy individuals (age 19-23 years) assigned to the intervention group (IG) or the control group (CG). Balance testing was carried out before (Pre) and immediately after CRS in the intervention group or after 5-minute rest in the control group (Post). There were performed three repetitions of the CRS targeting the adductor and abductor muscles of the hip.ResultsStatistically significant differences between Pre and Post condition were observed only in the intervention group. The values of all measured variables defining the body's dynamic balance were significantly lower immediately after the applied CRS, which indicates an improved body balance: Global Index (p = 0.0001), total area of sway (p = 0.0001), external area of sway (p = 0.00004), external time (p = 0.0004) and reaction time (p = 0.0003).ConclusionsA single dose of contract-relax proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching of the hip adductor and abductor muscles improved mediolateral dynamic balance.

Project description:Social facilitation has been researched for decades, but in the face of the development of virtual reality technology, new questions arise regarding the possibility of its occurrence in this environment -in the presence of computer-generated agents. Past research provided inconclusive answers: several experiments confirmed this possibility, but several others disagreed. On the other hand, previous studies have shown the important role of VR characteristics, such as realism or co-presence, in evoking other psychological phenomena. However, no study has investigated the interplay between the presence of computer-generated agents and perceived social realism in evoking social facilitation in virtual reality. To this end, the present randomized control study was conducted. The sample consisted of professional firefighters (N = 48), divided into an experimental group with virtual bystanders and a control group without them. Subjects were instructed to perform a rescue procedure in a virtual reality headset. The performance of participants was logged and they completed questionnaires regarding sense of presence in the virtual environment, perceived realism of the environment and perceived co-presence of virtual agents. The obtained results confirmed the role of social realism as a moderator of the occurrence of social facilitation in the presence of computer-generated agents. At the same time, the main effect of facilitation was not confirmed. These results support predictions that the subjective feeling of being in a realistic company of others may be more important in evoking social facilitation than objective facts. Furthermore, the results contribute to the debate regarding the mechanism of social facilitation, suggesting that simple augmentation of the environment with social distractors is not always enough, thus questioning the attentional explanation of the effect. Taken together, our results extend previous findings on social facilitation and open up new possibilities for designing effective virtual environments.

Dataset Information

Combining Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation and Virtual Reality for Improving Sensorimotor Function in Stroke Survivors: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Publications

Combining Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation and Virtual Reality for Improving Sensorimotor Function in Stroke Survivors: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Similar Datasets

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