OBJECTIVE

To determine the impact of clinical and anamnestic data of stroke patients on the rehabilitation process’s outcome in virtual reality (VR). To study parameters of postural stability, gait, daily activity and affective functions during motor training in the immersive high-tech polymodal VR system.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We examined 34 patients (16 women, 18 men, mean age 51.9±12.5) who had a stroke at least 2 weeks ago and had a degree of disability no more than 3 points on the Rankin scale, mainly due to movement disorders. The patients underwent training in the VR system (Grail, Motekforce) for 10 sessions. Before and after the end of the training, the patient’s condition was diagnosed, including indicators of motor and daily activities, affective functions, as well as an instrumental assessment of balance and gait in VR.

RESULTS

After training up to 62% of patients showed improvements in physical activity, up to 41% — in daily living activities, up to 73% — in the affective sphere. The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that gender, the type of stroke and the side of the brain lesion are significant predictors for the rehabilitation of postural stability, while the type of stroke and the period of recovery after stroke predict the restoration of the affective sphere.

CONCLUSION

Groups of patients stratified by gender, the type of stroke, the side of the brain lesion and recovery period, for whom training in the VR system was most effective, are identified. Based on the results of the study, the authors suggest the criteria of inclusion of VR in the individual rehabilitation program of patients with stroke.