A low cost virtual reality system for home based rehabilitation of the arm following stroke: a randomised controlled feasibility trial

Objective:To assess the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial of a home-based virtual reality system for rehabilitation of the arm following stroke.Design:Two group feasibility randomised controlled trial of intervention versus usual care.Setting:Patients’ homes.Participants:Patients aged 18 or over, with residual arm dysfunction following stroke and no longer receiving any other intensive rehabilitation.Interventions:Eight weeks’ use of a low cost home-based virtual reality system employing infra-red capture to translate the position of the hand into game play or usual care.Main measures:The primary objective was to collect information on the feasibility of a trial, including recruitment, collection of outcome measures and staff support required. Patients were assessed at three time points using the Wolf Motor Function Test, Nine-Hole Peg Test, Motor Activity Log and Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living.Results:Over 15 months only 47 people were referred to the team. Twenty se...