Gait therapy using virtual and augmented reality in patients after stroke.

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the immediate effect of a single-session gait therapy on a treadmill using virtual or augmented reality in post-stroke patients; and to compare the effectiveness of these approaches.

Group: A total of 61 participants were included in the study and divided into three groups. 24 participants underwent gait therapy using virtual reality (VR), 24 participants underwent gait therapy using augmented reality (AR), and thirteen participants were assigned to the control group (standard treadmill gait therapy without VR/AR).

Methods: All participants were assessed by the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and the Timed 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT) before and after the intervention. The Zebris FDM-T Treadmill was used for both assessment and gait therapy. We compared the following parameters: TUG, 10MWT, walking speed, step length of the paretic and non-paretic lower limb, step length asymmetry, and gait cadence.