Affiliations: Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Department of Physiotherapy, Laboratory of Moviment and Health, Natal/RN, Brazil
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Tania Fernandes Campos, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Avenida Senador Salgado Filho, 3000, CEP: 59066-800, Natal/RN, Brazil. Tel./Fax: +55 84 33422001; E-mail: taniacampos@ufrnet.br
Abstract: Background:Stroke is a major cause of motor disability in adults and needs interventions that contribute to motor recovery. Objective:This study aimed to compare the immediate effect of the training with virtual reality game in stroke patients according side brain injury. Methods:The participants included 20 patients (10 right brain injury), mean age of 50.6 ± 9.2 years, and 20 healthy subjects of 50.9 ± 8.8 years. All participants made a kinematic evaluation of drinking a cup of water before and after training with the table tennis game of the XBOX 360 Kinect®, in two series of 10 tries of 45 s, with 15 minutes rest between them, a total of 30 minutes. Data were analyzed by ANOVA. Results:There was a significant difference in the number of hits between patients and healthy subjects groups, in which patients had a lower performance in all the trials (p = 0.008). After the training, only patients with right brain injury improved their shoulder and elbow angles, approaching the left upper limb movement pattern of healthy subjects (p < 0.05). Conclusion:Patients with right brain injury responded better to the virtual reality game, suggesting introduction of new treatment techniques that promote neurorehabilitation.
Keywords: Stroke, brain injury, hemiparesis, motor disability
