Upper limb rehabilitation after spinal cord injury

Purpose state: The aim of this preliminary study was to test a data glove, CyberTouch ,combined with a virtual reality (VR) environment, for using in therapeutic training of reaching movements after spinal cord injury (SCI). Method: Nine patients with thoracic SCI were selected to perform a pilot st...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Dimbwadyo Terrer, Iris, Trincado Alonso, Fernando, Reyes Guzmán, Ana de los, Aznar, Miguel A., Alcubilla, César, Pérez Nombela, Soraya, Ama Espinosa, Antonio del, Polonio López, Begoña, Gil Agudo, Ángel Manuel
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2015
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha
Repositorio:RUIdeRA. Repositorio Institucional de la UCLM
OAI Identifier:oai:ruidera.uclm.es:10578/8921
Acceso en línea:http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/17483107.2015.1027293
http://hdl.handle.net/10578/8921
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:CyberTouch
Data glove
Rehabilitation
Spinal cord injury
Upper limbs
Virtual reality
Descripción
Sumario:Purpose state: The aim of this preliminary study was to test a data glove, CyberTouch ,combined with a virtual reality (VR) environment, for using in therapeutic training of reaching movements after spinal cord injury (SCI). Method: Nine patients with thoracic SCI were selected to perform a pilot study by comparing two treatments: patients in the intervention group (IG)conducted a VR training based on the use of a data glove, CyberTouch for 2 weeks, while patients in the control group (CG) only underwent the traditional rehabilitation. Furthermore, two functional parameters were implemented in order to assess patient?s performance of the sessions: normalized trajectory lengths and repeatability. Results: Although no statistical significance was found, the data glove group seemed to obtain clinical changes in the muscle balance (MB) and functional parameters, and in the dexterity, coordination and fine grip tests. Moreover, every patient showed variations in at least one of the functional parameters, either along Y-axis trajectory or Z-axis trajectory. Conclusions: This study might be a step forward for the investigation of new uses of motion capture systems in neurorehabilitation, making it possible to train activities of daily living (ADLs) in motivational environments while measuring objectively the patient?s functional evolution.