Virtual Reality Steps in to Train Stroke Patients
Stroke is one of the major causes of fatality for a long time now, especially in the modern world. It can also bring in motor cognitive, sensory, visual impairment while restricting their daily activity. Motor impairments are been observed in 80 percent of stroke patients alongside they also possess a loss of balance and gait. These problems form the important targets of rehabilitation. However, Virtual Reality has certainly defined the use of interactive simulations that are created using computer hardware and software to present users with opportunities to engage in an environment that appear and be similar to real-world objects and events.
According to reports, it’s been estimated that about 15 million people across the globe have suffered a stroke, out of which around 55 percent to 75 percent are stroke survivors that continue with motor deficits and have reduced quality of life post the event. These motor deficits and reduced quality include motor control, fine motor skills, strength, and dual-task coordination abilities that have the potential for significant effects on an individuals’ independence and quality of life.
A study carried out by the Research Centers has supported by FAPESP has resulted in the development of the virtual reality (VR) device and has been recognized as an outstanding development by the 20th International Conference on Computational Science and its Applications.
Alexandre Brandao, a researcher at the University of Campinas’s Physics Institute says, “The technology is expected to increase brain connectivity by stimulating the new neural connections needed to repair the losses caused by injury or by the patient’s clinical condition."
The BSN consists of an inertial sensor that is placed on the user’s ankle, detects motion relative to stationary gait, and tracks the body in the three planes of movement. The signals generated are processed and transmitted to a smartphone, which is used to control an avatar that interacts with the virtual environment.
Alexandre further adds, “Integration of the wearable with the Unity software means patients undergoing motor rehabilitation can interact with VR environments while the therapist views data for the movements performed during the session. The patient’s actual movements may be very limited or small, but in the virtual context the captured and processed data generates complete movements by the avatar. The visual information gives patients the impression they’re able to perform these complete movements, and this can potentially activate more neural networks than conventional mechanical therapy.”
It has been shown in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans that the procedure activates specific brain regions associated with these fictitious movements. The researchers say the next step entails performing clinical tests to measure the functional gains in the patient’s motor recovery, with an expected development to have the avatar engage in everyday activities, practice sports, or interact with other people in a multi-user virtual environment.
The motor cortex in the brain is composed of interconnected cortical areas that function together to bring about movement. Different areas of the motor cortex are shown to be active when performing different functional tasks, this is termed cortical motor mapping. Research reveals that motor learning causes morphological changes or reorganization in the motor cortex influencing these cortical maps. First, newly acquired movements or skills have been shown to expand across a larger cortical area. Moreover, in both intact and injured brains learned motor tasks demonstrate reorganization of the cerebral cortex. The reorganization of the cortex is improved through enriched environments and repetition of a task.
In patients affected by stroke, research shows that movement of the affected limb demonstrates greater cortical recruitment of the ipsilateral hemisphere, the contralateral (affected) hemisphere secondary cortical areas, and around the cortical rim of the lesion. This demonstrates operative reorganization and connectivity of the uninjured cortical areas to compensate for the abilities lost with the lesion. Although certain cortical reorganizations would not occur at the same time and depend to some extent on the severity of the stroke, motor and functional recovery rely on the cortical reorganization of ipsilateral or contralateral undamaged cortical tissue.
According to reports, it’s been estimated that about 15 million people across the globe have suffered a stroke, out of which around 55 percent to 75 percent are stroke survivors that continue with motor deficits and have reduced quality of life post the event. These motor deficits and reduced quality include motor control, fine motor skills, strength, and dual-task coordination abilities that have the potential for significant effects on an individuals’ independence and quality of life.
A study carried out by the Research Centers has supported by FAPESP has resulted in the development of the virtual reality (VR) device and has been recognized as an outstanding development by the 20th International Conference on Computational Science and its Applications.
Alexandre Brandao, a researcher at the University of Campinas’s Physics Institute says, “The technology is expected to increase brain connectivity by stimulating the new neural connections needed to repair the losses caused by injury or by the patient’s clinical condition."
The BSN consists of an inertial sensor that is placed on the user’s ankle, detects motion relative to stationary gait, and tracks the body in the three planes of movement. The signals generated are processed and transmitted to a smartphone, which is used to control an avatar that interacts with the virtual environment.
Alexandre further adds, “Integration of the wearable with the Unity software means patients undergoing motor rehabilitation can interact with VR environments while the therapist views data for the movements performed during the session. The patient’s actual movements may be very limited or small, but in the virtual context the captured and processed data generates complete movements by the avatar. The visual information gives patients the impression they’re able to perform these complete movements, and this can potentially activate more neural networks than conventional mechanical therapy.”
It has been shown in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans that the procedure activates specific brain regions associated with these fictitious movements. The researchers say the next step entails performing clinical tests to measure the functional gains in the patient’s motor recovery, with an expected development to have the avatar engage in everyday activities, practice sports, or interact with other people in a multi-user virtual environment.
The motor cortex in the brain is composed of interconnected cortical areas that function together to bring about movement. Different areas of the motor cortex are shown to be active when performing different functional tasks, this is termed cortical motor mapping. Research reveals that motor learning causes morphological changes or reorganization in the motor cortex influencing these cortical maps. First, newly acquired movements or skills have been shown to expand across a larger cortical area. Moreover, in both intact and injured brains learned motor tasks demonstrate reorganization of the cerebral cortex. The reorganization of the cortex is improved through enriched environments and repetition of a task.
In patients affected by stroke, research shows that movement of the affected limb demonstrates greater cortical recruitment of the ipsilateral hemisphere, the contralateral (affected) hemisphere secondary cortical areas, and around the cortical rim of the lesion. This demonstrates operative reorganization and connectivity of the uninjured cortical areas to compensate for the abilities lost with the lesion. Although certain cortical reorganizations would not occur at the same time and depend to some extent on the severity of the stroke, motor and functional recovery rely on the cortical reorganization of ipsilateral or contralateral undamaged cortical tissue.
