Therapy accompanying use of VRglasses in hemiparetic children and adolescents

Abstract

INTERVENTION: Intervention 1: A smartphone and the corresponding VR glasses from Samsung are provided as technical aids. First, a video recording of 12 different video sequences is made with healthy children of the same age group. The following everyday movements are filmed with a head or helmet camera for 15 minutes: ‐ Eating with both hands (Spaghetti, Pizza) ‐ Playing flipper with both hands ‐ Playing table soccer with both hands ‐ Put on trousers and shoes and take them off again with both hands ‐ Cycling, getting on and off, stopping, starting again The parents of the study participants carry out the intervention with VR glasses for 12 weeks every day for 15 minutes with the children and adolescents with hemiparesis. In the event of difficulties in carrying out the treatment, the physiotherapist or occupational therapist supports the parents. In addition, the parents of the study participants receive the smartphone and the corresponding VR glasses as well as the videos stored on the mobile phone. Parents are instructed how to put on the VR‐glasses. The use of the smartphone is also explained so that parents can play the videos. In a previously described order of 1‐12, 1 video per week (7 days) is shown daily for 15 minutes, preferably always at the same time each day, to the child or teenager. This ensures that the same video with the VR glasses is watched every day for 7 days. Every week the video changes so that the children and teenagers have seen all 12 videos in the 12 weeks. The children and adolescents with hemiparesis sit or stand, depending on their general condition and limitations, while they put on their VR glasses and watch the video. The parents of the study participants sit or stand next to the child or adolescent during the intervention in order to provide assistance in case of insecurity while sitting or standing. It is possible to schedule the therapy time with the VR‐glasses to the time before or after physiotherapy or occupational therapy, so that a phys CONDITION: G80.2 ‐ Spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy G81.0 ‐ Flaccid hemiplegia G81.1 ‐ Spastic hemiplegia INCLUSION CRITERIA: Children from 6 to 19 years with hemiplegia. A single affection of the arm or an affection of both ‐ arm and leg ‐ could be included. PRIMARY OUTCOME: Primary endpoints are collected after the 12‐week intervention or control phase and as a 6‐month follow‐up measurement as follows:; ‐ The hand‐finger motor function is determined with the "Nine Hole Peg Test". The time in hundredths of a second is measured, which the study participant needs for the execution. ; ‐ The function of the upper extremity is checked by means of the "Box and Block Test". The actions are measured within 60 seconds.; ‐ Bimanual coordination of the upper extremities is tested with the "Movement ABC‐2" manual dexterity tests. Here the time until the task is completed is measured. ; ‐ The balance and the risk of falling during an everyday movement task is measured with the "Timed‐up & go test". The time used for the test is measured in seconds.; ‐ The walking speed over a short distance of 10 meters is checked with the "Ten Meters Walking Test".; ‐ The "Goal Attainment Scale" (GAS) provides a clear definition of objectives at the beginning of the study as well as a review of target achievement.; ‐ The cardiopulmonary endurance capacity is determined with the "Six Minute Walking Test". The walking distance is measured in meters.