Comparison of the immediate effect of the training with a virtual reality game in stroke patients according side brain injury.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a major cause of motor disability in adults and needs interventions that contribute to motor recovery. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the immediate effect of the training with virtual reality game in stroke patients according side brain injury. METHODS: The participants included 20 patients (10 right brain injury), mean age of 50.6 +/- 9.2 years, and 20 healthy subjects of 50.9 +/- 8.8 years. All participants made a kinematic evaluation of drinking a cup of water before and after training with the table tennis game of the XBOX 360 Kinect (R), in two series of 10 tries of 45 s, with 15 minutes rest between them, a total of 30 minutes. Data were analyzed by ANOVA. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the number of hits between patients and healthy subjects groups, in which patients had a lower performance in all the trials (p = 0.008). After the training, only patients with right brain injury improved their shoulder and elbow angles, approaching the left upper limb movement pattern of healthy subjects (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with right brain injury responded better to the virtual reality game, suggesting introduction of new treatment techniques that promote neurorehabilitation.