• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.363-373
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to improve the gait ability and quality of life of stroke patients by combining virtual reality technology and a visual feedback gait training program with entertainment elements. Ten stroke patients with circumduction gait were selected. The visual feedback treadmill gait training program using virtual reality technology and a force plate measurement system was conducted 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, with 25 sessions in 5 weeks. To investigate the effects of this gait training program, evaluations using the joint range-of-motion test, muscle activity tests, Berg balance scale (BBS), gait analysis, and stroke-specific quality-of-life scale (SS-QOL) were performed before and after intervention. Statistically significant differences were found in the joint range of motion and muscle activity of the affected side from the initial swing phase to the mid-swing phase of the gait cycle, dynamic balance, gait function, and quality of life (p <0.05). The results of this study indicate that the gait training program improved the foot drop, muscle activity, dynamic balance, and gait ability of stroke patients with circumduction gait, thereby improving the quality of life of the patients. Therefore, we recommend the application of the visual feedback treadmill gait training program using virtual reality technology and a force plate measurement system to improve gait ability and quality of life of stroke patients with circumduction gait.