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Authors: Slepneva N.I., Gorokhova I.G.
Institutions: Federal State Budgetary Institution “National Medical and Surgical Center named after N.I. Pirogov” of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation. Moscow, Russian Federation.
Year: 2019
Abstract:
Motor disorders among patients with stroke, brain and spinal cord injuries occurs in 90 percent of cases. Conducting training in a virtual environment allows you to provide the necessary workspace for motor retraining, as well as provide interactive feedback, which contributes to the intensification of the rehabilitation process.

The purpose of the study:
To study the effect of training with the help of virtual biofeedback system “Habilect” based on infrared sensor on motor function of paretic limbs in early and late recovery period of neurological diseases.

Materials and methods:
A total of 21 patients (13 men, 8 women) aged 20 to 69 y/o participated in the study. The duration of the disease was from 1.5 months to 3 years. Evaluation scales:

• Renkin: 3-5 points
• Bohannon: 1-2 points
• Rehabilitation Routing Scale: 4 points
• Ashworth: 1-3 points
• Rivermead: 3-6 points
• Muscle strength rating scale: 2,5-4 points
• State of muscles: Atony, spasticity

The main group of patients (n = 11) in addition to training with the physical therapy instructor, was trained on the virtual biofeedback system “Habilect” for two weeks (30 min, 5 days a week). The control group (n = 10) received time equivalent targeted trainings with visual feedback from the instructor-methodologist (30 min, 5 days per week). The methods of evaluation are presented above. Patients in the main group had statistically significant improvements (p < 0.05) on the Bohannon scale; on the Muscle strength rating scale: significant (p < 0.05) improvement in vertical posture maintenance; overall score increase on the Rivermead scale. In the control group, statistically significant changes were found (p < 0.05) on the Rivermid Scale and the Six-point Muscular Strength Scale.

Results and discussions:
Training with the use of virtual biofeedback “Habilect” based on infrared sensor is an effective method of rehabilitation after a stroke, contributing to the improvement of motor function of the upper and lower extremities, improving stability during walking, improving the start of walking. This method can be a useful addition to the traditional rehabilitation in a rehabilitation hospital, polyclinic, home continued rehabilitation.