Game-Based, Portable, Upper Extremity Rehabilitation in Chronic Stroke
By Schuck, Sarah O.; Whetstone, Amy; Hill, Valerie; Levine, Peter; Page, Stephen J.; Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, Volume 18, Number 6, pages 720-727Publication Date: 2011
Case series pilot study evaluated the efficacy of the Core:Tx gaming device on two individuals with chronic stroke. The Core:Tx is described as a game-based activity rehabilitation program that combines computer software and hardware to provide real-time biofeedback from the hemiparetic limb. The user tracks a target on a computer monitor by moving his or her affected arm, to which a wireless device is attached. A stationary transceiver senses the movement and sends the information to interactive software to track progress. Study participants were a 63-year-old Caucasian woman and a 48-year-old African American man, both with chronic hemiparetic stroke. Intervention with the Core:Tx was provided 3 times a week for 3 weeks. Outcome measures were administered 1 week before and 1 week after intervention and included the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS), the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Motor Recovery (FM), and the Box and Block Test (BB). The female participant exhibited an 11 point increase on the SIS, a 1.2 point change on each of the performance and satisfaction scores of the COPM, a 1 point increase on the FM, and no change on the BB. The male participant experienced a 3 point increase on the SIS and no change on the COPM, FM, or BB. Both participants experienced increased quality of life, a greater propensity to use their affected arm, and enhanced task performance without exhibiting motor changes. Additionally, the gaming device was reported by participants to be a motivating modality in the therapy setting.
Published by: Thomas Land Publishers, Inc. (Website:http://www.thomasland.com)
National Stroke Association (Web Site: http://www.stroke.org )
