Effects of Ecologically Valid VR Task-Oriented Exercises on Post-Stroke Motor and Cognitive Function

Summary

Why is this study being done?

After a stroke, many people have problems with movement, such as walking, balance, and using their arms and hands. They may also experience difficulties with thinking skills, including attention, memory, and problem-solving. These movement and thinking abilities work closely together during everyday activities, such as preparing a meal, shopping, or moving safely through the home.

Traditional rehabilitation often treats movement and thinking problems separately. However, difficulties with attention, planning, and decision-making can affect a person's ability to move safely and learn new motor skills. Because of this, rehabilitation approaches that train both movement and thinking skills at the same time may provide greater benefits.

Virtual reality (VR) technology can create realistic, interactive environments that allow people to practice everyday activities in a safe setting. However, there is limited research on VR programs that simultaneously challenge both movement and thinking skills, and little is known about whether any benefits last over time.

What is the purpose of this study?

The purpose of this study is to compare a virtual reality-based rehabilitation program that combines movement and cognitive training in realistic everyday environments with conventional occupational therapy. The study will evaluate whether the VR program leads to greater improvements in motor function and cognitive function after stroke and whether these improvements are maintained over the long term.

Conditions

• Stroke

Interventions

OTHER

Conventional occupational therapy

Each session consists of three components. The first component includes preparatory activities designed to improve function of the affected upper limb. The second component focuses on fine motor skill training through exercises targeting reaching, grasping, object manipulation, and movements across the body's midline. The third component addresses individual motor and cognitive impairments through the practice of Basic Activities of Daily Living and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, as well as structured problem-solving tasks related to everyday situations.

OTHER

Virtual reality-based exercises in ecologically valid environments

The intervention consists of interactive video games to train activities of daily living in a customizable digital version of the participant's own kitchen. During training, participants control a sex-matched avatar that reflects their real-time movements. They interact with common kitchen objects while practicing tasks that target both motor abilities, such as balance, posture, and hand-eye coordination, and cognitive abilities, such as attention, memory, planning, and problem-solving. The system can use photographs of the participant's home kitchen to create a familiar and realistic virtual environment. This approach is intended to support the transfer of skills practiced during therapy to the participant's everyday activities at home.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universitat Politècnica de València

  collaborator OTHER

• Hospitales Nisa

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Roberto Llorens, PhD · Universitat Politecnica de Valencia

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-02-16

Primary Completion

2025-10-09

Completion

2025-10-09

Countries

• Spain

Study Locations