Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35016629›Full record

Trial reportBMC neurology2022

Effects of virtual reality-based motor control training on inflammation, oxidative stress, neuroplasticity and upper limb motor function in patients with chronic stroke: a randomized controlled trial.

Chien-Yu Huang, Wei-Chi Chiang, Ya-Chin Yeh, Shih-Chen Fan, Wan-Hsien Yang, Ho-Chang Kuo, Ping-Chia Li

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC neurology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 39 papers, 12 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
39citing papers in PubMed, 12 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

39 citing papers in PubMed, 12 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Virtual reality for stroke rehabilitation.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2025
    Pooled it
  5. Pooled it
  6. Pooled it
  7. Pooled it
  8. Pooled it
  9. Pooled it
  10. Pooled it
  11. Pooled it
  12. Pooled it
  13. Trial
  14. Trial
  15. Review
  16. Review
  17. Review
  18. Review
  19. Article
  20. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Chien-Yu HuangDepartment of Occupational Therapy, I-Shou University, Yanchao Dist., Kaohsiung, 824, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Wei-Chi ChiangDepartment of Occupational Therapy, I-Shou University, Yanchao Dist., Kaohsiung, 824, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Ya-Chin YehDepartment of Occupational Therapy, Shu-Zen Junior College of Medicine and Management, Kaohsiung, 741, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Shih-Chen FanDepartment of Occupational Therapy, I-Shou University, Yanchao Dist., Kaohsiung, 824, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Wan-Hsien YangTan-Chi International Technology Co., Ltd, 824, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Ho-Chang KuoKawasaki Disease Center and Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, 824, Taiwan R.O.C.
Ping-Chia LiDepartment of Occupational Therapy, I-Shou University, Yanchao Dist., Kaohsiung, 824, Taiwan, R.O.C.. pingchiali@gmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundImmersive virtual reality (VR)-based motor control training (VRT) is an innovative approach to improve motor function in patients with stroke. Currently, outcome measures for immersive VRT mainly focus on motor function. However, serum biomarkers help detect precise and subtle physiological changes. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the effects of immersive VRT on inflammation, oxidative stress, neuroplasticity and upper limb motor function in stroke patients.

methodsThirty patients with chronic stroke were randomized to the VRT or conventional occupational therapy (COT) groups. Serum biomarkers including interleukin 6 (IL-6), intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were assessed to reflect inflammation, oxidative stress and neuroplasticity. Clinical assessments including active range of motion of the upper limb and the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for upper extremity (FMA-UE) were also used. Two-way mixed analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were used to examine the effects of the intervention (VRT and COT) and time on serum biomarkers and upper limb motor function.

resultsWe found significant time effects in serum IL-6 (p = 0.010), HO-1 (p = 0.002), 8-OHdG (p = 0.045), and all items/subscales of the clinical assessments (ps < 0.05), except FMA-UE-Coordination/Speed (p = 0.055). However, significant group effects existed only in items of the AROM-Elbow Extension (p = 0.007) and AROM-Forearm Pronation (p = 0.048). Moreover, significant interactions between time and group existed in item/subscales of FMA-UE-Shoulder/Elbow/Forearm (p = 0.004), FMA-UE-Total score (p = 0.008), and AROM-Shoulder Flexion (p = 0.001).

conclusionThis was the first study to combine the effectiveness of immersive VRT using serum biomarkers as outcome measures. Our study demonstrated promising results that support the further application of commercial and immersive VR technologies in patients with chronic stroke.

Indexed as

StrokeStroke RehabilitationVirtual RealityHumansInflammationNeuronal PlasticityOxidative StressRecovery of FunctionTreatment OutcomeUpper Extremity8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG)Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)InflammationNeuroplasticityOxidative stressStroke rehabilitationVirtual reality (VR)

Identifiers

PMID35016629
PMCPMC8751278

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.