Bilateral Movement-based Computer Games Improve Sensorimotor Functions in Subacute Stroke Survivors.
Stefanie S L Lam, Tai Wa Liu, Shamay S M Ng and 2 others
PMID 35730901WHAT IT FOUND
Adding 30 minutes of bilateral computer gaming to standard therapy improved arm movement and daily function in subacute stroke survivors more than video exercises alone.
The gaming group showed greater gains in upper limb impairment and activity scores, with benefits lasting one month after treatment ended.
Key findings
01The group receiving bilateral computer games plus standard therapy showed significantly greater improvement in upper limb motor impairment (FMA-UE) than the control group.
02The computer game group also achieved significantly better scores in upper limb function (ARAT) compared to the video-directed exercise group.
03Improvements in motor impairment and function in the computer game group were maintained one month after the intervention ended.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
Participants were not blinded to their treatment, which could have influenced self-reported outcomes like quality of life. The study population was specific: cognitively intact, subacute stroke survivors who could follow instructions and hold a controller. Results may not generalize to those with severe cognitive impairment, chronic stroke, or very mild upper limb issues. The statistical analysis used parametric tests on data that were non-normally distributed, though the authors used linear mixed-effects models to mitigate this. Multiple secondary outcomes were tested, increasing the risk of false-positive findings despite Bonferroni correction.
Declared interests
The study protocols were approved by ethics committees. Funding sources are not explicitly detailed in the provided text, but the authors state no conflicts of interest regarding the commercial products used, noting the controller was custom-made.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the significant improvements in the gaming group as proof that computer games alone are effective. The benefit came from adding 30 minutes of gaming to 3 hours of standard physiotherapy and occupational therapy. The gaming did not replace conventional care but augmented it.