Effects of Training Using Video Games on the Muscle Strength, Muscle Tone, and Activities of Daily Living of Chronic Stroke Patients

摘要

The use of technology in rehabilitation has increased rapidly1). One such technology, virtual reality has been shown to be an effective intervention. In particular, virtual reality using video games played on devices such as the Wii or PlayStation are being used as interventions2' 3'. These video games can provide benefits to patients who have difficulty with activities in the real environment4'. The video games can furnish interventions to improve motor function, balance, gait, and coordination5'. Video games were originally designed for recreation rather than rehabilitation of patients. Nevertheless, it is an advanced technology that can be used to encourage functional recovery of individuals with permanent disabilities6'. In recent studies, virtual reality training using video games has been shown to improve the motor function of the upper extremity of patients with stroke3-7'. A few studies has also demonstrated that patients showed high levels of motivation when playing in the video games, and that video games can be satisfying for patients in rehabilitation8'9'. The Xbox Kinect is a device for playing video games that recognizes user's movement using infrared camera sensors. Users can see their posture and movement in the virtual reality environment without a controller, confirmed in real time