BILATERAL MOVEMENT-BASED COMPUTER GAMES IMPROVE SENSORIMOTOR FUNCTIONS IN SUBACUTE STROKE SURVIVORS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported that movement-based computer gaming is more effective than conventional intervention in enhancing upper limb rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the use of bilateral movement-based computer games could augment the effects of conventional intervention in improving the upper limb motor function, grip strength and health-related quality of life of subacute stroke survivors. METHODS: A total of 93 subjects with subacute stroke were randomized into 2 groups receiving one of two 3.5-h interventions for 2 days per week over 8 weeks: (i) “bilateral movement-based computer games + conventional rehabilitation”; and (ii) “video-directed exercise + conventional rehabilitation” (control group). RESULTS: A total of 83 subjects completed the interventions and follow-up assessments. Compared with video-directed exercise + conventional rehabilitation, bilateral movement-based computer games + conventional rehabilitation produced greater improvements in upper limb motor impairment from mid-treatment to follow-up 1 month post-intervention, greater improvements in upper limb function from post-intervention to 1 month follow-up, and earlier improvements in grip strength (paretic) from mid-intervention to follow-up 1 month post-intervention. Subjects who received bilateral movement-based computer games + conventional rehabilitation also continued to improve in motor function from post-intervention to 1 month post-intervention. CONCLUSION: Bilateral movement-based computer games may serve as an adjuvant therapy to conventional rehabilitation programmes for improving upper limb recovery among stroke survivors.