Post Stroke Patients Balance Improvement by Comparing VR Assisted Treadmill Training vs. Traditional Treadmill Training

Abstract

Background: After stroke gait speed and ability to deal with functional limitation is altered and main aim of rehabilitation of stroke patients is to improve functional capacity of patients

Objective: To check improvement in balance of post stroke patients by comparison of VR-assisted treadmill training or by traditional treadmill training

Methods: A Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) was conducted. Data was collected from different hospitals of Lahore including LGH hospital, Services Hospital and Shaukat Khanum Hospital Lahore from September 2022 to August 2023. In this RCT 100 stroke patients were divided into two groups evenly. One group received VR assisted training while other group received traditional treadmill training. Treatment time was six weeks and outcome variables were checked before and after treatment. Outcome variables included time up and go test, Berg Balance scale and perceived effort.

Results: In the research findings it was showed that group of people who were treated by VR assistance showed better results in all outcome measures. A mean increase in gait speed ( more than 0.4 m/s ) was noted. While 0.2 m/s was shown in traditional group. P value was found 0.05. A more pronounced value of -4.2s was showed in VR group as compare to traditional group where -2.5 s were changed in result of time up and go test (TUGT).P value was less than 0.05.  In berg balance scale 8 plus points were increased in VR assisted group as compare to traditional group. Perceived effort was more reduced in VR group as compare to traditional group.

Conclusion: Gait speed, balance and perceived effort in post stroke patients were significant and better in group of people who were treated by VR assisted treadmill as compare to traditional treadmill group.VR assisted treadmill group can effectively improve quality of life in post stroke patients.