• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.185-190
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• 2020

Purpose: Gait and cognitive impairment in stroke patients exacerbate fall risk and mobility difficulties during multi-task walking. Virtual reality can provide interesting and challenging training in a community setting. This study evaluated the effect of community-based virtual reality gait training (VRGT) using a 360-degree image on the gait ability of chronic stroke patients. Methods: Forty-five chronic stroke patients who were admitted to a rehabilitation hospital participated in this study. Patients meeting the selection criteria were randomly divided into a VRGT group (n=23) and a control group (n=22). Both these groups received general rehabilitation. The VRGT group was evaluated using a 360-degree image that was recorded for 50 minutes a day, 5 days per week for a total of 6 weeks after their training. The control group received general treadmill training for the same amount of time as that of the VRGT group. The improvement in the spatiotemporal parameters of gait was evaluated using a gait analyzer system before and after training. Results: The spatiotemporal gait parameters showed significant improvements in both groups compare with the baseline measurements (p<0.05), and the VRGT group showed more improvement than the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Community-based VRGT has been shown to improve the walking ability of chronic stroke patients and is expected to be used in rehabilitation of stroke patients in the future.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.33-40
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• 2009

Purpose: This study examined the effects of a virtual reality-based exercise program on the functional recovery of balance and gait in chronic stroke subjects. Methods: A total of 42 chronic stroke patients were enrolled in this study. The participants were allocated randomly to 2 groups: a VR (n=22) and control group (n=20). Both groups received treadmill training for 3 sessions (10 minutes each), 30 minutes per week over a 6 week period. The VR group practiced additional virtual reality programs consisting of 3 programs for 10 minutes each. The data was analyzed using a paired t-test and independent t-test to determine the statistical significance. Results: The virtual reality-based exercise group showed significant increases in gait velocity, cadence and stride length compared to the control group (p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in static balance. Conclusion: These results support the perceived benefits of exercise programs that incorporate virtual reality to augment the balance and ambulation of stroke patients. Therefore, virtual reality is feasible and suitable for stroke patients

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.55-64
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• 2024

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the effects of robot-assisted gait training combined with virtual reality training on balance and gait ability in stroke patients. METHODS: Thirty-one stroke patients were allocated randomly into one of two groups: robot-assisted gait training combined virtual reality training group (RGVR group; n = 16) and control group (n = 15). The RGVR group received 30 minutes of robot-assisted gait training combined with virtual reality training. Robot-assisted gait training was conducted in parallel using a virtual reality device. In the Control group, neurodevelopmental therapy was performed according to the function of chronic stroke patients. Both groups underwent training for 30 minutes, three times per week for eight weeks. The balance assessment system (BioRescue, Marseille, France), BBS, and TUG were used to evaluate the balance ability. The OptoGait (Microgate Srl, Bolzano, Italy) and 10 mWT were measured to evaluate the gait ability. The measurements were performed before and after the eight-week intervention period. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant improvement in their balance and gait ability during the intervention. RGVR showed significant differences in balance and gait ability compared to the control group groups (p < .05). These results showed that RGVR was more effective on balance and gait ability in patients with chronic stroke. CONCLUSION: RGVR can improve balance and gait ability, highlighting the benefits of RGVR. This study provides intervention data for recovering the balance and gait ability of chronic stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2013

Objective: Final goal of nerve advancement therapy is to provide maximum ability to function independently in life to patients. This paper appraises and describes basic concepts of the virtual reality (VR) based exercise program to improve functional movement for neurologically impaired patients. Design: Review article. Methods: Stroke patients from the physical therapy department while wearing comfortable clothing receive therapy and also VR based motion therapy administered by the therapist in charge. After evaluation of stroke patients, therapy includes an exercise program that is suitable for use with stroke patients; stroke patients wear head-mounted display while in front of the computer, where the camera is located; they follow the action on the screen and the computer perceives the operation of the stroke patients according to subject accomplishment. Results: According to obstacle condition of stroke patients using the method, which is various environments after setting, in stroke patients, there is a possibility of presenting suitable therapeutic environments. The display presentation of the method, which is identical, causes difficulty for all stroke patients. According to subject accomplishment; stroke patients result in execution of repetition training and deepening study, which leads to mobility. Conclusions: The VR based rehabilitation training programs is a difference of the existing video training program, is immediate feedback and compensation method. It will provide rehabilitation training services for the family of the patient whose condition could be improved with rehabilitative therapy where it is a continuous circumstance as a matter of the social welfare facility therapy.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.67-75
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to assess the ability of balance control in virtual moving surround stimulation using head mount display (HMD) device and force platform in patients with brain injury. Fifteen patients with stroke (mean age 54.47 yrs) and fifteen healthy normal persons participated. COP parameters were obtained total path distance, frequency of anterior-posterior and medial-lateral component by FFT analysis, weight-spectrum analysis in the two different conditions; (1) during comfortable standing with opened or closed eyes, (2) during virtual moving surround stimulation delivered using HMD with four different moving pattern. Moving patterns consisted of close-far, superior-inferior lilting (pitch) , right-left tilting (roll) and horizontal rotation (yaw) movement. In all parameters, the test-retest reliability was high. Also, the construct validity of virtual moving surround stimulation was excellent (p＜0.05). A posturographic balance assessment system equiped with virtual moving surround stimulation using HMD is considered clinically useful in evaluation of balance control in patients with brain injury.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.12-19
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of virtual moving surround (VMS) on static balance in the patients with balance dysfunction. Eighty three subjects who were admitted or treated as an outpatient, or a family member, at the department of rehabilitation unit of university hospital were recruited to participate. Subjects were three groups based on their overall medical status: healthy, diabetic neuropathy and stroke. Each group was tested for static balance with a forceplate during static standing with VMS. The virtual movement was simulated with a head mounted display. The parameters for static balance were total sway path. In this study, the parameters of postural control for patients with diabetic neuropathy and stroke subjects were significantly increased in conditions elicited with the VMS. In the healthy elderly participants, the total sway path was not significantly different under virtual movement conditions. Therefore, VMS could be used in the evaluation and treatment of the patients with balance dysfunction.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.249-258
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• 2021

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze domestic and foreign studies using virtual reality or metaverse for exercise rehabilitation in order to help the disabled or elderly patients with exercise rehabilitation, and suggest a method for using metaverse for exercise rehabilitation. Method: In this study, after analyzing and discussing various information related to the metaverse and exercise rehabilitation through electronic search of recently published papers, academic journals, books, and internet websites, the exercise rehabilitation plan using the metaverse was proposed. Results: In the case of domestic research, the diversity of virtual reality application technology for the rehabilitation of disabled and elderly patients was not secured, but recently, virtual reality or metaverse-related technologies were developed and specialized in a form suitable for exercise rehabilitation. In the case of overseas studies, it was analyzed that exercise rehabilitation using virtual reality and metaverse games for the rehabilitation of disabled and elderly patients can help improve brain, physical ability, and anti-aging by activating the body and mind. Conclusion: Smart metaverse health care is actively introduced to exercise rehabilitation, metaverse telemedicine business is applied to exercise rehabilitation programs, and digital twin games and exercise rehabilitation programs developed by metaverse related companies take into account the characteristics of disabled and elderly patients. If customized smart metaverse healthcare is used for exercise rehabilitation, it is analyzed that it can lead this field.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1997 no.11
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• pp.587-589
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• 1997

The virtual surgical trial of TAH is very important in some points as follows. The chests of patients who is under heart-disease are various types of undefine form. It is hard to say that there exist the standard shape of TAH and the position to surgern. So, the virtual surgery system is very important in realizing TAH surgery of human. We have implemented virtual surgery system of TAH that supporting multi volume fitting trial. We have acquired CT images of patients with DICOM format. Each organ of patients was segmented in 2-dimensional CT images. 3-dimensional objects were made with marching cube algorithm and save as file in VRML format. Virtual fitting trial was performed on Cosmo-World; a VRML editor. The collision points of TAH with other organs were well observed. And the best position and angles were determined and saved or each case. We believed that this virtual surgery will be helpful in TAH surgery and TAH customizing.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.68-87
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• 2000

This study aims at the operation of the hospice in the virtual space by the use of telecommunication technology. The hospice can be an efficient alternative for the elderly and terminal patients. It can achieve both the quality of life of patients and the conservations of medical resources. The virtualization creates new norms and values which are different from the conventional environments. The concepts and limitations which are crucial to the projection of the existing hospice into the virtual space are discussed. The items ranging from the hospice need to the design criteria of the modules are investigated. The most important point in constructing the virtual hospice center is the human factor, which characterizes the hospice. In addition, the real-world circumstances of the hospice should be considered in the realization of the VHC.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2023

Purpose : This study evaluated the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation and a virtual reality program on the depression, hand functions, cognitive function, and activities of daily living of patients with mild cognitive impairment by dividing 20 patients with mild cognitive impairment and depression. The 20 patients were divided into a treatment group (transcranial direct current stimulation + a virtual reality program) and a control group (placebo transcranial direct current stimulation + a placebo virtual reality program). Methods : This study allocated ten subjects to the treatment group and ten subjects to the control group. The treatment was given five times per week for six weeks (30 sessions), and each session was 30 minutes. This study screened depression by using SGDS-K, a short geriatric depression scale, to examine depression before and after treatment intervention. This study also used the box and block test, NCSE, and FIM to evaluate hand functions, cognitive function, and activities of daily living, respectively. Results : The results showed that depression significantly decreased, hand functions significantly increased, cognitive function significantly improved, and activities of daily living significantly increased after intervention in the treatment and control groups. The magnitude of changes in depression, hand functions, cognitive function, and activities of daily living was significantly different between the two groups after intervention (p>.05). Conclusion : The results showed that the application of transcranial direct current stimulation and a virtual reality program could improve cognitive function, hand functions, and activities of daily living by decreasing depression. Therefore, it can be concluded that the simultaneous application of transcranial direct current stimulation and a virtual reality program is an intervention method, which can be applied for decreasing depression, enhancing hand functions, improving cognitive function, and increasing activities of daily living in patients with mild cognitive impairment.