360 Degrees Virtual Reality-based Mirror Therapy for Stroke Patients

360 Degrees Virtual Reality-based Mirror Therapy for Upper Extremity Rehabilitation Among Stroke Patients

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to compare the effects of 360 degree virtual reality-based mirror therapy (360MT) to traditional mirror therapy (TMT) and conventional physical therapy (control group) on upper extremity function among stroke patients.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Would 360MT be more effective when treated for 4 weeks in outcome measure ments including: Fugl-Meyer Assessment for upper extremity (FMA-UE); manual function test (MFT); and box & block test (BBT)?
• How would particants' experience be in terms of satisfactory and enjoyment during 360MT?

The study will have three groups of participants who will be involved in different tasks:

• 360MT group: will receive mirror therapy using a virtual reality device (HMD) and perform tasks with their paralyzed hand. Sessions will last 30 minutes, 3 times a week for 4 weeks.
• TMT group: will receive mirror therapy using an acrylic mirror and perform finger, wrist, elbow exercises using their paralyzed limb. Sessions will last 30 minutes, 3 times a week for 4 weeks.
• Control group: will receive conventional physical therapy consisting of exercises for the upper extremity, 60 minutes per day, 5 sessions a week, for 4 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

• who have not passed 12 months since onset;
• who can understand and follow instructions;
• who have ≥21 scores in Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-K);
• who have mild to moderate motor impairment according to the Fugl Meyer Assessment (FMA) scores

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients who have any kinds of mental disorder and/or Alzheimer's disease;
• who have orthopedic and/or musculoskeletal injury;
• who have apraxia; and
• who have previous experiences of participating in investigations and/or mirror therapy.