Objective:To explore the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality (VR)-guided core stability-assisted training in improving the balance of ischemic stroke survivors.Methods:Sixty-six hemiplegic ischemic stroke survivors were randomly divided into a conventional rehabilitation training group (CON) of 32 and an immersive VR-guided core stability-assisted training group (VR-TOT) of 34. In addition to basic internal medical treatment, the CON group underwent conventional rehabilitation therapy, while the VR-TOT group received VR-guided core stability-assisted training. Before and after 4 weeks of the treatments, the subjects′ balance was evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer balance scale. A three-dimensional force platform was used to collect the sway amplitude, sway speed, peripheral area and total trajectory length of the center of pressure COP of the bilateral plantar in the left-right and anterior-posterior directions while the subjects stood with the eyes open and closed.Results:After the treatments, the average Fugl-Meyer balance scores of both groups had improved significantly. In the eyes-open condition, after the treatment, there was a significant decrease in the average COP sway amplitude in the anteroposterior direction on the hemiplegic side among the CON group, as well as in both the mediolateral and anteroposterior directions on both sides in the VR-TOT group. The sway velocity in the anteroposterior direction on the hemiplegic side had decreased significantly in both groups, and the sway velocity in both the mediolateral and anteroposterior directions on the non-hemiplegic side had also decreased significantly. In the CON group the peripheral area on the non-hemiplegic side had decreased and the total trajectory length had shortened significantly. In the VR-TOT group there were significant decreases in the peripheral area on both sides and in the total trajectory length on both sides. Comparing the two groups after treatment, the peripheral area on the hemiplegic side in the VR-TOT group was significantly smaller. In the eyes-closed condition, the sway amplitude of the COP on the hemiplegic side in the anteroposterior direction and on the non-hemiplegic side in both the mediolateral and anteroposterior directions had decreased significantly in the VR-TOT group after the treatment. The average sway velocity had decreased significantly in the anteroposterior direction on the non-hemiplegic side in the CON group. In the VR-TOT group this was observed in the anteroposterior direction on the hemiplegic side and in both the mediolateral and anteroposterior directions on the healthy side. In the CON group the average peripheral area of the COP on the hemiplegic side had decreased, and the total trajectory length had shortened, both significantly. In the VR-TOT group, the peripheral area on the non-hemiplegic side had decreased significantly as well.Conclusions:Core stability-assisted training based on immersive virtual reality can effectively improve the balance of ischemic stroke survivors. It shows promise for clinical application.

Objective:To explore the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality (VR)-guided core stability-assisted training in improving the balance of ischemic stroke survivors.Methods:Sixty-six hemiplegic ischemic stroke survivors were randomly divided into a conventional rehabilitation training group (CON) of 32 and an immersive VR-guided core stability-assisted training group (VR-TOT) of 34. In addition to basic internal medical treatment, the CON group underwent conventional rehabilitation therapy, while the VR-TOT group received VR-guided core stability-assisted training. Before and after 4 weeks of the treatments, the subjects′ balance was evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer balance scale. A three-dimensional force platform was used to collect the sway amplitude, sway speed, peripheral area and total trajectory length of the center of pressure COP of the bilateral plantar in the left-right and anterior-posterior directions while the subjects stood with the eyes open and closed.Results:After the treatments, the average Fugl-Meyer balance scores of both groups had improved significantly. In the eyes-open condition, after the treatment, there was a significant decrease in the average COP sway amplitude in the anteroposterior direction on the hemiplegic side among the CON group, as well as in both the mediolateral and anteroposterior directions on both sides in the VR-TOT group. The sway velocity in the anteroposterior direction on the hemiplegic side had decreased significantly in both groups, and the sway velocity in both the mediolateral and anteroposterior directions on the non-hemiplegic side had also decreased significantly. In the CON group the peripheral area on the non-hemiplegic side had decreased and the total trajectory length had shortened significantly. In the VR-TOT group there were significant decreases in the peripheral area on both sides and in the total trajectory length on both sides. Comparing the two groups after treatment, the peripheral area on the hemiplegic side in the VR-TOT group was significantly smaller. In the eyes-closed condition, the sway amplitude of the COP on the hemiplegic side in the anteroposterior direction and on the non-hemiplegic side in both the mediolateral and anteroposterior directions had decreased significantly in the VR-TOT group after the treatment. The average sway velocity had decreased significantly in the anteroposterior direction on the non-hemiplegic side in the CON group. In the VR-TOT group this was observed in the anteroposterior direction on the hemiplegic side and in both the mediolateral and anteroposterior directions on the healthy side. In the CON group the average peripheral area of the COP on the hemiplegic side had decreased, and the total trajectory length had shortened, both significantly. In the VR-TOT group, the peripheral area on the non-hemiplegic side had decreased significantly as well.Conclusions:Core stability-assisted training based on immersive virtual reality can effectively improve the balance of ischemic stroke survivors. It shows promise for clinical application.