Effect of virtual reality on upper limb function after stroke:a study of diffusion tensor imaging
Objective To explore the effect of virtual reality on upper limb function in stroke patients through diffusion tensor imag-ing(DTI).Methods From September,2021 to March,2023,80 stroke patients in the Fuzhou Second General Hospital were ran-domly divided into control group(n = 40)and experimental group(n = 40).Both groups received routine rehabili-tation,while the experimental group received virtual reality training additionally,for four weeks.They were as-sessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremities(FMA-UE)and Action Research Arm Test(ARAT)be-fore treatment,after treatment and after four-week follow-up;and they were scaned with DTI to measure the frac-tional anisotropy(FA)and relative anisotropy(RA)of cerebral peduncle and posterior limb of inner capsule of the affected side before and after treatment.Results Two cases dropped in each group.The FMA-UE and ARAT scores increased in both groups after treatment and follow-up(F>2.790,P<0.001),and increased more in the experimental group than in the control group(t>2.297,P<0.05).FA and RA in the posterior limb of inner capsule increased in both groups after treatment(t>21.013,P<0.001),and increased more in the experimental group(t>2.006,P<0.05).The d-value of FA of the posterior limb of internal capsule before and after treatment(ΔFA)was positively correlated with the d-value of FMA-UE score(r>0.362,P<0.05)in both groups,the ΔFA of the posterior limb of internal capsule was posi-tively correlated with the d-value of ARAT score(r = 0.459,P<0.01).Conclusion Virtual reality training can promote the recovery of upper limb function in stroke patients,which may associ-ate with the conductivity of posterior limb of inner capsule.