Affiliations: [a] Department of Physiotherapy, Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel | [b] Department of Rehabilitation, Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel | [c] Department of Day Care Rehabilitation, Reuth Rehabilitation Center, Tel Aviv, Israel | [d] Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel | [e] The Academic Center Levinsky-Wingate, Netanya, Israel | [f] Rehabilitation Division, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Oren Schwartz, Department of Day Care and Pain Unit, Reuth Rehabilitation Center, 2 Hachail Ave., Tel Aviv 6772829, Israel. E-mail: [email protected].
Note: [1] The authors contributed equally to the study.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The Selfit system was developed to improve the mobility and gait-related functions of stroke patients by providing digital exercises and augmented reality training system. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a digital exercise and augmented reality training system on mobility, gait-related functions and self-efficacy outcomes in stroke patients. METHODS: A randomized control trial was conducted on 25 men and women diagnosed with an early sub-acute stroke. Patients were randomly assigned to either the intervention (N= 11) or the control groups (N= 14). Patients in the intervention group received a digital exercise and augmented reality training using the Selfit system in addition to the standard physical therapy treatment. Patients in the control group were treated with a conventional physical therapy program. Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, 10-meter walk test, the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), and the Activity-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale were completed before and after the intervention. Feasibility and satisfaction among patients and therapists were also assessed after the completion of the study. RESULTS: The intervention group practiced proportionally more time per session than the control group with a mean change of 19.7% following 6 sessions (p= 0.002). The intervention group showed better improvement in post-TUG score compared to the control group (p= 0.04). ABC, DGI, and the 10-meter walk test scores were not significantly different between the groups. Both therapists and participants demonstrated high satisfaction with the Selfit system. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that Selfit holds promise as an effective intervention for improving mobility and gait-related functions among patients with an early sub-acute stroke as compared to conventional physical therapy treatments.
Keywords: Stroke, gait, mobility, digital exercise, augmented reality
