Virtual reality in managing Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS): a scoping review

BackgroundComplex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a severe pain disorder that does not yet have a specific treatment. Patients with CRPS not only suffer from a wide range of symptoms that affect their quality of life but also present psychological affections to the way they see their body and specifically their affected limb. Virtual Reality (VR) modalities have become a targeted treatment for chronic pain and in the case of CRPS, may be a valuable approach to the mechanisms that affect these patients.ObjectivesUsing the PRISMA Scoping Review guidelines, we intend to uncover the key information from the studies available about VR modalities in the treatment of CRPS. We focus on the improvement of pain levels, body perception disturbances (BPD), and limb movement/daily function.ResultsOur search strategy resulted in 217 articles from PubMed. Twenty were assessed for eligibility and seven were included in the final qualitative synthesis. Of these seven articles, we included a clinical trial, three pilot studies, a blinded randomized controlled trial, a crossover double-blind trial, and a randomized controlled trial. These studies provide important subjective patient findings, along with some statistically significant results in the experiences of VR therapies modulating pain, BPD, and improving limb movement/daily function. However, not all the studies included statistical analysis, and there are contradicting data found from some patients that did not perceive any improvement from VR therapies.ConclusionsWe describe the results found in 7 articles that focus on the treatment of CRPS with VR modalities. Overall, the articles have various limitations, but the strategies related to immersive virtual reality, cardiac signaling, body switching and limb modulation have shown the most promising results for pain reduction and BPD improvement. These strategies reflect on pathophysiological mechanisms that are hypothesized to be affected in CRPS patients leading to the chronic pain and BPD that they experience. Not much evidence was found for improvement in limb movement and daily function. This review is a pathway for future studies on this topic and a more extensive data synthesis when more information is available

Resistance Training Combined with Balance or Gait Training for Patients with Parkinson's Disease: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Background. Gait and balance disorders in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) lead to major mobility limitations. To counteract this, physical therapy such as gait, balance, or resistance training is applied. Integrative training methods, which combine these elements, could be particularly effective. Objective. The objective of this study is to evaluate and compare the effects of two integrative interventions on gait and balance of patients with PD. Methods. Twenty-six patients with PD received either resistance training in combination with gait training (gait resistance training, GRT) or resistance training in combination with balance training (stability resistance training, SRT) for six weeks. Gait and balance outcome parameters were assessed before, immediately after, and six weeks after the interventions. The primary outcome parameters were the functional reach test to evaluate balance and stride length to evaluate gait. Secondary outcomes included further gait analysis parameters, knee extension strength, the timed up and go test, and the six-minute walk test. Results. The functional reach test results were significantly better after the intervention in both groups. Stride length increased significantly only in the GRT group. Several further gait parameters and the six-minute walk test improved in the GRT group, and the increase in gait speed was significantly higher than in the SRT group. The SRT group performed better after the intervention regarding the timed up and go test and knee extension strength, the latter being significantly more improved than in the SRT group. At six-week follow-up, the improvement in functional reach was maintained in the SRT group. Conclusions. Integrative therapies, combining gait or balance training with resistance training, have specific positive effects in PD rehabilitation. More pronounced effects on gait parameters are achieved by GRT, while SRT has more impact on balance. Thus, the combination of both training methods might be particularly efficient in improving the mobility of PD patients

Effects of robotic-assisted early mobilization versus conventional mobilization in intensive care unit patients: prospective interventional cohort study with retrospective control group analysis

Background Approximately one in three survivors of critical illness suffers from intensive-care-unit-acquired weakness, which increases mortality and impairs quality of life. By counteracting immobilization, a known risk factor, active mobilization may mitigate its negative effects on patients. In this single-center trial, the effect of robotic-assisted early mobilization in the intensive care unit (ICU) on patients’ outcomes was investigated. Methods We enrolled 16 adults scheduled for lung transplantation to receive 20 min of robotic-assisted mobilization and verticalization twice daily during their first week in the ICU (intervention group: IG). A control group (CG) of 13 conventionally mobilized patients after lung transplantation was recruited retrospectively. Outcome measures included the duration of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, muscle parameters evaluated by ultrasound, and quality of life after three months. Results During the first week in the ICU, the intervention group received a median of 6 (interquartile range 3–8) robotic-assisted sessions of early mobilization and verticalization. There were no statistically significant differences in the duration of mechanical ventilation (IG: median 126 vs. CG: 78 h), length of ICU stay, muscle parameters evaluated by ultrasound, and quality of life after three months between the IG and CG. Conclusion In this study, robotic-assisted mobilization was successfully implemented in the ICU setting. No significant differences in patients’ outcomes were observed between conventional and robotic-assisted mobilization. However, randomized and larger studies are necessary to validate the adequacy of robotic mobilization in other cohorts

Frühmobilisation auf der Intensivstation : sind robotergestützte Systeme die Zukunft?

'''Hintergrund:''' Bei etwa 43% aller Überlebenden der Intensivmedizin wird ein erworbenes Syndrom an Muskelschwäche beobachtet, welches Überleben und Lebensqualität vermindert. Da kausale Therapieoptionen bisher fehlen, stehen die Vermeidung der bekannten Risikofaktoren und Frühmobilisation im Vordergrund. Robotische Unterstützungssysteme werden vermehrt in der Mobilisation erprobt. '''Ziel der Arbeit:''' In diesem Übersichtsartikel wird die aktuelle Evidenz von Frühmobilisation von kritisch Kranken zusammengefasst und der Stellenwert robotischer Assistenzsysteme für Mobilisation diskutiert. '''Ergebnisse:''' Mobilisation sollte auf der Intensivstation nachMöglichkeit früh begonnen werden. Hierunter wird der Beginn in den ersten 72 h nach der Aufnahme auf die Intensivstation verstanden. Physiotherapeutische Interventionen während des Intensivaufenthalts zeigen positive Effekte auf die Lebensqualität von PatientInnen, auf die Dauer von invasiver Beatmung, Intensivaufenthalt und Delir. Strukturierte Behandlungsprotokolle führen zu mehr aktiver Mobilisation, höherer Mobilität und häufigerer funktioneller Unabhängigkeit bei Entlassung aus dem Krankenhaus. Nach Schlaganfällen erhöhen zusätzliche robotergestützte Therapieeinheiten insbesondere bei stärker eingeschränkten PatientInnen die Rate an Rückkehrern zum selbstständigen Gehen, scheinen sicher und verbesserten in kleinen Studien Muskelkraft und Lebensqualität. '''Schlussfolgerung:''' Frühmobilisation verbessert das Outcome von kritisch Erkrankten. Robotische Systeme unterstützen das Gangtraining nach einem Schlaganfall und werden auf der Intensivstation in ersten Studien zu Vertikalisierung und Frühmobilisation untersucht

Robot-assisted early mobilization of intensive care patients : a feasibility study protocol

Background: Early mobilization positively infuences the outcome of critically ill patients, yet in clinical practice, the implementation is sometimes challenging. In this study, an adaptive robotic assistance system will be used for early mobilization in intensive care units. The study aims to evaluate the experience of the mobilizing professionals and the general feasibility of implementing robotic assistance for mobilization in intensive care as well as the efects on patient outcomes as a secondary outcome. Methods: The study is single-centric, prospective, and interventional and follows a longitudinal study design. To evaluate the feasibility of robotic-assisted early mobilization, the number of patients included, the number of performed VEM (very early mobilization) sessions, and the number and type of adverse events will be collected. The behavior and experience of mobilizing professionals will be evaluated using standardized observations (n > 90) and episodic interviews (n > 36) before implementation, shortly after, and in routine. Patient outcomes such as duration of mechanical ventilation, loss of muscle mass, and physical activity will be measured and compared with a historical patient population. Approximately 30 patients will be included. Discussion: The study will provide information about patient outcomes, feasibility, and the experience of mobilizing professionals. It will show whether robotic systems can increase the early mobilization frequency of critically ill patients. Within ICU structures, early mobilization as therapy could become more of a focus. Efects on the mobilizing professionals such as increased motivation, physical relief, or stress will be evaluated. In addition, this study will focus on whether current structures allow following the recommendation of mobilizing patients twice a day for at least 20 mi