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Embodied Virtual Reality Mirror Visual Feedback for an Adult with Cerebral Palsy

Received: 12 April 2021     Accepted: 8 May 2021     Published: 21 May 2021
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Abstract

Virtual reality-assisted physical therapy and mirror visual feedback (MVF) are promising treatments for children with cerebral palsy (CP). However, thus far, neither interventions’ use has been reported in adults with CP. The following case report examines the safety and feasibility of using customized virtual reality (VR) interventions to deliver MVF to an adult with hemiplegic CP and right sided pain, weakness, and dystonias. A weekly intervention was delivered in an ambulatory care setting over one year. Self-reported pain, motor function, anxiety, disability, quality of life and depression were monitored weekly. The treatment was acceptable and well tolerated with no instances of cybersickness. The intervention showed immediate and consistent pain relief during treatment, similar to those reported in other studies, with the percentage of pain relief during sessions ranging from 6.25% to 38.5%. Motor function, including range of motion, control, and dexterity, were improved per patient report. However, the duration of pain relief lasted only 2–4 days between sessions. The authors believe that the present findings may inspire others treating adults and children with CP to explore the use of MVF and VR to enhance rehabilitation with an emphasis on adapting technologies for home use. Further implications of these findings for the future are discussed.

Published in American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience (Volume 9, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajpn.20210902.16
Page(s) 59-67
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Virtual Reality, Case Reports, Physical Therapy Modalities, Cerebral Palsy, Mirror Visual Feedback

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Kim Bullock, Andrea Stevenson Won, Jeremy Bailenson, Julie Muccini, Margot Paul, et al. (2021). Embodied Virtual Reality Mirror Visual Feedback for an Adult with Cerebral Palsy. American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, 9(2), 59-67. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20210902.16

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    ACS Style

    Kim Bullock; Andrea Stevenson Won; Jeremy Bailenson; Julie Muccini; Margot Paul, et al. Embodied Virtual Reality Mirror Visual Feedback for an Adult with Cerebral Palsy. Am. J. Psychiatry Neurosci. 2021, 9(2), 59-67. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpn.20210902.16

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    AMA Style

    Kim Bullock, Andrea Stevenson Won, Jeremy Bailenson, Julie Muccini, Margot Paul, et al. Embodied Virtual Reality Mirror Visual Feedback for an Adult with Cerebral Palsy. Am J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2021;9(2):59-67. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpn.20210902.16

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajpn.20210902.16,
      author = {Kim Bullock and Andrea Stevenson Won and Jeremy Bailenson and Julie Muccini and Margot Paul and Helen Bronte Stewart},
      title = {Embodied Virtual Reality Mirror Visual Feedback for an Adult with Cerebral Palsy},
      journal = {American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience},
      volume = {9},
      number = {2},
      pages = {59-67},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajpn.20210902.16},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20210902.16},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajpn.20210902.16},
      abstract = {Virtual reality-assisted physical therapy and mirror visual feedback (MVF) are promising treatments for children with cerebral palsy (CP). However, thus far, neither interventions’ use has been reported in adults with CP. The following case report examines the safety and feasibility of using customized virtual reality (VR) interventions to deliver MVF to an adult with hemiplegic CP and right sided pain, weakness, and dystonias. A weekly intervention was delivered in an ambulatory care setting over one year. Self-reported pain, motor function, anxiety, disability, quality of life and depression were monitored weekly. The treatment was acceptable and well tolerated with no instances of cybersickness. The intervention showed immediate and consistent pain relief during treatment, similar to those reported in other studies, with the percentage of pain relief during sessions ranging from 6.25% to 38.5%. Motor function, including range of motion, control, and dexterity, were improved per patient report. However, the duration of pain relief lasted only 2–4 days between sessions. The authors believe that the present findings may inspire others treating adults and children with CP to explore the use of MVF and VR to enhance rehabilitation with an emphasis on adapting technologies for home use. Further implications of these findings for the future are discussed.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Embodied Virtual Reality Mirror Visual Feedback for an Adult with Cerebral Palsy
    AU  - Kim Bullock
    AU  - Andrea Stevenson Won
    AU  - Jeremy Bailenson
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    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20210902.16
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    T2  - American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
    JF  - American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
    JO  - American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
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    SN  - 2330-426X
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20210902.16
    AB  - Virtual reality-assisted physical therapy and mirror visual feedback (MVF) are promising treatments for children with cerebral palsy (CP). However, thus far, neither interventions’ use has been reported in adults with CP. The following case report examines the safety and feasibility of using customized virtual reality (VR) interventions to deliver MVF to an adult with hemiplegic CP and right sided pain, weakness, and dystonias. A weekly intervention was delivered in an ambulatory care setting over one year. Self-reported pain, motor function, anxiety, disability, quality of life and depression were monitored weekly. The treatment was acceptable and well tolerated with no instances of cybersickness. The intervention showed immediate and consistent pain relief during treatment, similar to those reported in other studies, with the percentage of pain relief during sessions ranging from 6.25% to 38.5%. Motor function, including range of motion, control, and dexterity, were improved per patient report. However, the duration of pain relief lasted only 2–4 days between sessions. The authors believe that the present findings may inspire others treating adults and children with CP to explore the use of MVF and VR to enhance rehabilitation with an emphasis on adapting technologies for home use. Further implications of these findings for the future are discussed.
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, USA

  • Department of Communication, Cornell University, Ithaca, USA

  • Department of Communication, Stanford University, Stanford, USA

  • Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, USA

  • PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium, Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, USA

  • Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, USA

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