Arm motor rehabilitation in chronic stroke: Effects of two training environments

Abstract

The effects of training in a 3D virtual environment (VE) as compared to a similar physical environment (PE) were compared in 32 subjects (n=16 per group) with chronic post-stroke hemiparesis. The PE group improved elbow extension as measured by the elbow subscale of the Reaching Performance Scale. The VE group had increased range of shoulder horizontal adduction and decreased range of trunk rotation after training. Results suggest that both environments are useful tools for upper limb motor rehabilitation post-stroke.