Virtual Reality Mirror Therapy for Those With Acquired Brain Injury: A Clinical Pilot Study

NCT ID: NCT02762058

Last Updated: 2016-05-04

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: UNKNOWN
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 30 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2016-06-30
• Study Completion Date: 2019-06-30

Brief Summary

The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of virtual reality based mirror therapy (VMT) on individuals with acquired brain injury when compared to a control group receiving traditional mirror therapy (TMT). This is a randomized controlled pilot study in which patients with hemiplegia will be assigned to VMT or TMT and the impact on upper extremity function will be observed.

Detailed Description

The investigators are currently running a mirror therapy pilot project in the Hamilton Health Sciences Rehabilitation Program. Mirror therapy has been successfully used with people that have injuries such as strokes or other types of brain injuries that affect movement on one side of their body. Mirror therapy involves placing a mirror over the affected limb and angling it to reflect the unaffected limb. This creates a visual illusion that moving the unaffected limb also results in movement in the affected limb. This is theorized to aid recovery of the motor system in the brain. Virtual Reality (VR) can also be used with people with strokes and brain injuries and many studies of VR have shown positive results. In this study, the investigators will combine VR and mirror therapy. The investigators have designed a special new system that uses VR headset to make it appear that both limbs are moving when only the unaffected limb is moving. The investigators are going to do this by having people complete virtual tasks wearing this specially programmed headset. The tasks are everyday activities that a person might perform using two hands. Ultimately, the investigators hope to determine whether there is any difference between VR mirror therapy and regular mirror therapy in improving upper limb function.

Conditions

Acquired Brain Injury Including Stroke

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Experimental Group

Patients receiving Virtual Reality Mirror Therapy

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Virtual Reality Mirror Therapy

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Virtual Reality Mirror Therapy system using occulus rift as virtual headset and kinect as motion tracking sensor.

Control Group

Patients receiving Traditional Mirror Therapy

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Traditional Mirror Therapy

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Traditional Mirror Therapy system consisting of a mirror in which patients view their healthy limb over the affected to trick brain during dual motion tasks. This therapy has been shown to improve upper extremity function in patients with acquired brain injury.

Interventions

Virtual Reality Mirror Therapy

Virtual Reality Mirror Therapy system using occulus rift as virtual headset and kinect as motion tracking sensor.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Traditional Mirror Therapy

Traditional Mirror Therapy system consisting of a mirror in which patients view their healthy limb over the affected to trick brain during dual motion tasks. This therapy has been shown to improve upper extremity function in patients with acquired brain injury.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Other Intervention Names

VMT; Occulus Rift; Microsoft Kinect; Mirror Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• diagnosis of stroke or brain injury, including ischemic or hemorrhagic strokes, confirmed by radio logical evidence and evidence suggesting injury primarily to one side and exhibited by hemiplegia
• their post injury time is between 2 weeks and 2 years
• patients are between the age of 16 and 65 years old

Exclusion Criteria

• greater than stage 4 on the CMSA
• behavioral impairments that may prevent safe or consistent participation

• Minimum Eligible Age: 16 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of Guelph

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Laura MacNeil

Masters Student

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Hussein Abdullah, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Guelph

Central Contacts

Denise Johnson, BHSc(PT)

Role: CONTACT

johnsden@hhsc.ca

(905)521-2100

Bonnie Buchko

Role: CONTACT

buchkbon@hhsc.ca

(905)521-2100

Other Identifiers

1227

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id