The Effects of Virtual Reality on Motor Functions and Daily Life Activities in Unilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Aim: This study was designed to investigate the effects of virtual reality (VR) through Kinect on both gross and fine motor functions and independence in daily living activities in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP). Materials and Methods: This study was designed as a single-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Sixty children with USCP were randomized and split equally between the VR intervention group (10 females and 20 males with a mean age of 10.5–3.62 years) and the traditional occupational therapy (TOT) intervention group (13 females and 17 males with a mean age of 10.06–3.24 years). Both groups were evaluated in terms of motor functioning via the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-Short Form (BOTMP-SF) and were assessed in accordance with independence in daily activities via the WeeFunctional Independence Measure (WeeFIM). Interventions were conducted for 8 weeks with the main objective of improving motor functions and independence in daily activities. Results: Total motor functions and total independence in daily lives in both groups improved after 8 weeks of intervention. A comparison between groups revealed significantly greater improvements in both gross and fine motor functions and daily activities in the VR group than in the TOT group (P<0.001). Conclusion: The Kinect-based VR intervention approach is important to improving motor functions and independence in daily activities of children with USCP.