Virtual remedy for stroke victims
Virtual remedy for stroke victims
2008-08-27Newsfeed
A new physiotherapy treatment for stroke victims involving 'tricking' the brain is being developed by a UK university.
A new physiotherapy treatment for stroke victims involving 'tricking' the brain is being developed by a UK university.
The programme uses a specially-adapted treadmill with screens of anything from urban landscape images to forest and mountain scenes.
The virtual reality treatment works by making the patient think they are walking more slowly than they are by using moving images.
The programme has been developed by PhD student Wendy Powell, at the University of Portsmouth.
She said: "Early results suggested that patients using the technique might experience less pain than traditional physiotherapy alone."
The former chiropractor said the treatment is particularly beneficial to older stroke patients because it is less reliant on self-motivation unlike traditional remedies and there is less fear of falling over.
She said patients find they can improve by up to 20%.
Dr Jane Williams, a consultant nurse in stroke care at Queen Mary's Hospital in Portsmouth, said: "I can see it working very well on improving strength, endurance and stamina."
Andy Long, 61, says stroke survivors, like himself, cannot use normal treadmills because they are not in control. He believes this system will help them enormously. McGill University in Canada is currently holding clinical trials.
Copyright © The Press Association 2008
