• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2019

Purpose : This study assessed the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on balance, fall efficacy, and fall-related fitness in stroke patients, using a cohort of 30 stroke patients divided into two groups. Methods : The experimental group (was given transcranial direct current stimulation in a virtual reality program) and the control group was given false tDCS in virtual reality. there were 15 patients in each group, receiving appropriate treatment over 30 sessions (30 minutes per session per week over a six-week period). In order to assess the change in balance before and after the intervention, the Berg Balance scale was utilized. Fall efficacy was evaluated using the Korean Falls Efficacy Scale for the Elderly (FES-K), The following exercises were performed by patients to assess fall-related fitness : sitting down in a chair and standing up : walking a 244 cm round= trip, and standing on one foot. Results : After the intervention, the experimental group exhibited significantly increased fall efficacy and fall-related fitness, while the control group exhibited no change. These findings suggest that tDCS has positive effects on balance, fall efficacy, and fall-related fitness in stroke patients. Conclusion : Using tDCS as an intervention would bring positive effects on balance, fall efficacy, and fall-related fitness in stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.62-71
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• 2023

Background: This study was performed to evaluate the effects of Thermal stimulation combined virtual reality training (TV) on improvement of upper extremity AROM and function in patient with chronic stroke. Design: Two groups pre-post randomized controlled design. Methods: A single-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted with 30 chronic stroke patients. They were randomly allocated two groups; the TV group (n=15) and Virtual Reality training group (VT) (n=15). The TV group received treatment for 30 min - 15 min of Thermal stimulation, and 15 min of VR training. The VT group received 15 min of VR training. Each group performed 30 minutes a day 3 times a week for 8 weeks. The primary outcome upper extremity AROM and function were measured by a active range of motion test, Manual Function Test (MFT) and Jebsen-Taylor hand function Test (JTT). The upper extremity active range of motion was evaluated using a digital dual inclinometer. MFT and JTT were used to evaluate the hand function. The measurement were performed before and after the 8 weeks intervention period. Results: Both groups demonstrated significant improvement of outcome in muscle strength and upper extremity function during intervention period. TV group revealed significant differences in AROM and upper extremity function as compared to the VT groups (p<.05). Our results showed that TV was more effective on upper extremity AROM and function in patients with chronic stroke. Conclusion: Both groups demonstrated significant improvement of outcome in muscle strength and upper extremity function during intervention period. TV group revealed significant differences in AROM and upper extremity function as compared to the VT groups (p<.05). Our results showed that TV was more effective on upper extremity AROM and function in patients with chronic stroke.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2024

Although there have been several attempts to use virtual reality (VR) in the treatment of depression, the results have been inconsistent and existing studies have mostly relied on subjective measures to assess the effectiveness of VR in improving depression. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of nature experience-based VR intervention on depressive symptoms in a young population using both subjective and objective measurements. The study population included 15 participants who had more than 14 identifiers of the Korean Beck Depression Inventory (K-BDI)-II. Participants received three weeks (four times per week) of VR intervention. The effectiveness of VR was assessed through changes in K-BDI-II scores and depression-related blood biomarkers. Nature experience-based VR intervention led to an approximately 50% reduction of K-BDI-II score (before 25.7±7.7 vs. after 12.5±8.3 (P<0.001)). Of these, loss of pleasure and fatigue showed the largest amount of improvement. However, levels of cortisol, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and interleukin-6 did not differ from those at baseline. The findings of our pilot study suggest that nature experience-based VR can be a useful adjunctive treatment method for improving depressive symptoms in individuals who have difficulty accessing the real outside natural environment.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.91-102
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to systematically review about randomized controlled trials the characteristics and effect of cognitive function intervention for patient with dementia. We searched studies published from January 2010 to June 2021 in 5 databases. A total 1,104 studies were found and included 27 studies in final analysis. Methodological quality was assessment with the Cochrane's RoB(risk of bias) tool. Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE) was the most used as the assessment tool for identifying the cognitive function. Cognitive function intervention were exercise, art, cognitive stimulation, reminiscence, music, multimodal cognitive rehabilitation, virtual reality, horticultural, computerized cognitive training, intentional snoezelen, beauty, cooking, korean traditional familiarity program. Most of the intervention except exercise 2, virtual reality 1, beauty 1 were effective in improving cognitive function. This study provided a clinical evidence for planning and implementing intervention for cognitive function intervention. In the future, various intervention studies suitable for the characteristics of dementia should be conducted by improving the quality of research methods.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.53-65
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• 2016

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of virtual reality based exercise program on gross motor function and balance of children with spastic cerebral palsy. Method : Subjects of this study, among the children who received the diagnosis spastic cerebral palsy, for children total of 8 people have agreed to research. Experimental group 4 people, control group 4 people, was a total of 8 people. Group-specific arbitration method, was applied to Nintendo Wii Fit game (experimental group) and exercise program (control group). Each training courses 30 minutes for 4 weeks, examined the changes in Gross Motor Function Measure(GMFM) and Pediatrics Balance Scale(PBS) ability to examine a total of 4-week course effectively. The intervention were compared by measuring before and after. Result : There were significant improvements in the subscales of the gross motor function and balance test of those who practiced with the Nintendo Wii Fit game, while the control group showed no significant changes. Conclusion : Therefore, the virtual based on exercise is effective in improvement of to improve the gross motor function and balance in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2012

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of treadmill training with real optic flow scene on functional recovery of balance and balance self-efficacy in stroke patients. Design: Single blind, Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Nine patients following stroke were divided randomly into the treadmill with optic flow group (n=3), treadmill with virtual reality group (n=3), and control group (n=3). Subjects in the treadmill with optic flow group wore a head-mounted display in order to receive a speed modulated real optic flow scene during treadmill training for 30 minutes, while those in the treadmill with virtual reality group and control group received treadmill training with virtual reality and regular therapy for the same amount of time, five times per week for a period of three weeks. Timed up and go test (TUG) and activities-specific balance confidence scale (ABC scale) were evaluated before and after the intervention. Results: TUG in the treadmill training with optic flow group showed significantly greater improvement, compared with the treadmill training with virtual reality group and control group (p<0.05). Significantly greater improvement in the ABC scale was observed in the treadmill training with optic flow group and the tread mill training with virtual reality group, compared with the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Findings of this study demonstrate that treadmill training with real optic flow scene can be helpful in improving balance and balance self-efficacy of patients with chronic stroke and may be used as a practical adjunct to routine rehabilitation therapy.

• Convergence Security Journal
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• v.14 no.3_1
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• pp.65-70
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• 2014

The aim of this study is to suggest the fitness Avatar model for increasing physical activities in individuals with SCI(spinal cord injury). With the increasing of the disable, the ratio of individuals with SCI is also increasing. Avatar is a movable image that represents a person in a virtual reality environment or in cyberspace. With the expansion of new technology, such as video games and virtual reality, there has been an increase in the interest of using virtual reality in therapy. It is not easy for individuals with SCI to access tho sports facilities due to paraplegia. The increasing physical activities based on virtual reality will be the most innovative and future-oriented approach. First, building a system and establishing a comprehensive support system is essential to activate and spread variety of physical activities for individuals with SCI. Second, providing a appropriate feedback and identifying the effect of intervention will be considered.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.369-378
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• 2019

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of virtual reality-based task training (VRBTT) using a smart glove on upper extremity function and activity of daily living in stroke patients. Methods: Twenty-nine patients with chronic stroke disease were randomly allocated to two groups: the VRBTT group (n=14) and the control group (n=15). All patients received 30 minutes of standard occupational therapy, 5 times a week, for 8 weeks. The VRBTT group performed an additional 30 minutes of virtual reality-based rehabilitation training, 5 times a week, for 8 weeks. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in upper extremity function, yielding an increase in FMA and K-WMFT (p<0.05). There was a more significant increase in the VRBTT group before and after interventions (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in MAS for the control group (p>0.05); however, there was a significant increase for the VRBTT group (p<0.05). In the activities of daily living, there was a significant difference in the values for K-MBI (p<0.05). In addition, both groups showed a significant increase for K-MBI and K-RNLI (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that VRBTT using smart gloves can have a more positive effect on upper extremity function and activities of daily living in stroke patients than conventional intervention methods. A variety of virtual reality-based contents and glove-shaped wearable devices will help stroke patients in rehabilitation clinics recover and return to society.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.172-179
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of virtual reality game based training on balance and upper limb function in subacute stroke patients. Thirty patients with subacute stroke were randomly assigned to experimental groups(n=15) and control groups(n=15) applying virtual reality game-based training programs. Intervention is applied three times a week for 6 weeks, 30 minutes for 1 time. In the study group, there was a significant improvement in balance ability, upper extremity function, and trunk impairment scale(p<.05), and the difference between the two groups was significant in the BBS, TUG, TIS(p<.05). Based on these results, the virtual reality game based training program is clinically useful exercise program for subacute stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.429-439
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• 2020

This study examined the effect size of virtual reality programs on the upper extremity function of stroke patients through a meta-analysis. Databases, such as the Research Information Sharing Service, the Korean Studies Information Service System, the National Library of Korea, the Korean Citation Index, and the National Digital Science Library, were used. Previous articles were surveyed for virtual reality programs between January 2010 and June 2019. A meta-analysis was performed by selecting the final 14 studies based on the PICO standard. The RoB and RoBANS tools were used as quality assessment tools for randomized and non-randomized control trials, respectively. The CMA 3.0 program was used to calculate the effect size of each study. Sub-group analysis, meta-regression analysis, and publication bias were performed. The total effect size of the virtual reality programs on the upper extremity function was Hedges's g=0.390 (95% CI: 0.192~0.587) (p<.05). The virtual reality program positively affects the upper extremity function of stroke patients. Therefore, the development of various virtual reality programs and industry-academia cooperation technology for stroke patients is required in accordance with the fourth industry. Randomized control trials and detailed upper extremity function studies for virtual reality programs will be needed in follow-up studies.