Hyungkyu Kang

The Effects of Visual Flow Speed's Modulation-Based Virtual Reality Program on Gait Function in Stroke Patients

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a visual flow speed‘s modulation-based VR(virtual reality) program on gait function in stroke patients. Thirty one stroke patients were randomly selected at Dep. of Rehabilitation medicine of M hospital in Seoul. We carried out the gait analysis by dividing them with four conditions : one condition had applied without the visual flow modulation-based VR and another had done three visual flow speeds modulation-based VR(0.25, 1, 2 times). The gait analysis was used with GaitRite system. The data were collected using gait velocity, cadence, stride length, step length, single support time, and double support time during treatment. The results were as follows. First, the slow visual flow(0.25 times)-based VR program on the condition was significant decrease gait velocity, cadence, stride length, step length and increase single support time, double support time(p<.05). Second, the fast visual flow(2 times)-based VR program on the condition was significant increase gait velocity, cadence, stride length, step length, single support time on paretic lower limb and decrease single support time on non-paretic lower limb, double support time(p<.05). Third, the normal visual flow(1 times)-based VR program on the condition was not significant differ gait velocity, cadence, stride length, step length, single support time, double support time. In conclusion, the visual flow speeds modulation-based VR program improves gait function in chronic stroke patients