Can interactive, motion-capture-based rehabilitation in an inpatient stroke population increase physical activity levels for people undergoing rehabilitation for stroke?

Background: High intensity targeted practice aids functional recovery for stroke survivors, however clients spend much of their time in rehabilitation being inactive. Interactive, motion-capture-based rehabilitation provides an option for therapy that may be more engaging and motivating.

Aims: To determine if interactive, motion-capture-based rehabilitation can increase the activity levels of stroke survivors in inpatient rehabilitation compared to usual care, particularly during therapy time.

Methods: Patients (n ¼ 66) admitted to two subacute rehabilitation units with recent (<6 months) stroke were randomly allocated into usual care or an intervention group. The intervention group used the Jintronix system (http://www.jintronix.com/), utilising a motion-capture camera to allow body movements to drive gameplay, completing prescribed games targeting their rehabilitation needs. The control underwent group exercises on one unit and 1:1 therapy with a rehabilitation assistant on the other unit. Both groups wore ActivPAL (PAL Technologies, Glasgow, UK) activity monitors continuously for seven days. Activity levels were quantified by percentage of time spent upright and compared using t-tests.

Results: During therapy time, the intervention group spent more time in upright positioning (UP) performing standing and stepping tasks (55 %UP), than the usual care group (45 %UP) (p ¼ 0.01). Activity levels for awake hours of the day were similar between the groups (usual care 14 %UP, intervention 12 %UP, p ¼ 0.24).

Conclusions: These results demonstrate that using the technology platform increased the amount of time in standing activity during therapy. The implications of this for reducing sedentary time and improving functional mobility warrant further investigation.