RESUMEN
About one-third of stroke survivors present unilateral spatial neglect (USN) that negatively impacts the rehabilitation outcome. We reported the study protocol and usability results of an eye-tracking (ET) biofeedback immersive virtual reality (iVR) protocol. Healthy controls and stroke patients with and without USN underwent a single session of the three iVR tasks. The system usability scale (SUS), adverse events (AEs), and ET data were collected and analyzed via parametric analysis. Twelve healthy controls (six young adults and six older adults) and seven patients with a diagnosis of single ischemic stroke (four without USN and three with confirmed diagnosis of USN) completed the usability investigation. SUS results showed good acceptability of the system for healthy controls and stroke patients without USN. ET results showed a lower performance for patients with USN concerning healthy controls and stroke patients without USN, in particular in the exploration of the left visual field. The results showed that the proposed iVR-ET biofeedback protocol is a safe and well-tolerated technique in patients with USN. The real-time feedback can induce a performance response supporting its investigation such as a treatment approach.
RESUMEN
The present review aims to explore the use of Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) in the treatment of visual perception in Unilateral Spatial Neglect (USN) after a stroke. PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Pedro databases were searched, from inception to 1 February 2022. All studies that investigated the effect of IVR on USN, such as outcome in the stroke population, have been included. The current comprehensive systematic review was performed following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations and was registered in the PROSPERO database [CRD42022311284]. Methodological quality was assessed through JBI critical appraisal tool. A total of 436 articles were identified through the database searches. A total of 10 articles, with a heterogeneous study design, which involved 77 patients with USN with low-to-moderate methodological quality, have been selected. Five out the included studies tested usability of IVR for assessed or treated visual perception deficits in USN, comparing the results with 134 healthy subjects. In the rest of studies that tested IVR such as treatment, three showed statistical positive results (p < 0.05) in visual perception outcome. To date, the literature has suggested the potential benefits in the use of IVR for the treatment of visual perception disorders in USN. Interestingly, IVR motivates patients during the rehabilitation process improving compliance and interest. The heterogeneity in the studies' design and in IVR treatments indicate the need of future investigations in the consideration of potentiality and low-cost of this technology.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Recently, the potential rehabilitation value of music has been examined and music-based interventions and techniques such as the Negative Mismatch (MMN) have been increasingly investigated in the neurological rehabilitation context. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a negative mismatch-based therapy on the disability and quality of life in patients with stroke in sub-acute phase. METHODS: Thirty patients with a stroke diagnosis in sub-acute phase were randomly assigned to one of two groups: Mismatch (Mg) or Control (CTRLg) group. Both groups used an innovative Android application: Temporal Musical Patterns Organisation (Te.M.P.O). The Disability Rating Scale (DRS), the Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and the Stroke Specific Quality of Life scale (SSQoL) were used at the baseline (T0) and after four weeks of training (T1), in order to assess changes over time. RESULTS: Statistical analysis was performed using the data of 24 (Mgâ=â12, CTRLgâ=â12) subjects. The results show a major improvement of the Mg with respect to the CTRLg in all clinical scales score. CONCLUSION: The temporal negative mismatch-based therapy performed with the Te.M.P.O. application could be useful in improving the disability and the quality of life in stroke survivors in a sub-acute phase.