Virtual Reality Gaming for Treadmill Training:

Karen KottSchool of Physical Therapy, Old Dominion University

Gianluca De LeoVirginia Modeling Analysis and Simulation Center, Old Dominion University

Katrina LesherPhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Eastern Virginia Medical School

Eleonora BrivioVirginia Modeling Analysis and Simulation Center, Old Dominion University

Steven MorrisonSchool of Physical Therapy, Old Dominion University

Improving Functional Ambulation in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Background

Cerebral Palsy1

Describes group of permanent disorders that are non-progressive (2-3/1,000)

Occur in the fetal or infant brain Impact development of movement and

postureCausing activity limitation

Background Different clinical presentations

Abnormal muscle tone (hypertonia & hypotonia) Abnormal coordination (ataxia) Movement abnormality (dystonia & athetosis)

Accompanying impairments Sensation, perception, cognition, communication,

behavior, seizures Secondary musculoskeletal system i.e. weakness and

limited range of motion

Background

Functional mobility or activity limitation Means to classify severity of movement disability Key function of ambulation Ambulation is the basis for standardized system of

classification Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS)2

Loss or limited ambulation Impacts the lifetime costs for care3

Limits the quality of life Can lead to an early death4

Literature Review Rehabilitation

Ambulation training “Best practices” for motor learning movements5

Self-initiated and useful Able to adapt to the environment Practiced repetitively Goal driven related to functional tasks

Treadmill feasible tool for CP6

How to make it interesting? Integrate with play and Virtual Reality (VR)7,8

VR + gait training can change spatiotemporal parameters9

Research Pilot Study Purpose: Design, develop, and test the use of

a virtual game to improve ambulation in children Participants:

CP ages 5-15 years ability to walk with no assistive devices except

orthosesno cardiopulmonary limitations

Research Study

Methods: One group:

pre-test/post-test design Measurement tool:

Standardized Walking Obstacle Course (SWOC)10

Research Study

Treatment Protocol Watch VR DVD (5,10,15 minutes segments) Walk on treadmill (completing 9 hours of training)

Initial speed calculated from walk hands free condition of the SWOC

Monitor HR via pulse Increased speed as tolerated by .1 mph Safety and rest

Receive reinforcement via coins, diamonds and verbal prompting

VR Game Solution

Toys do not have rules or goals Puzzles have goals Games have rules and goals A game must include

Play activity Pretended reality A nontrivial goal Rules

VR Game Solution

1) design of the virtual environments, 2) render of the virtual environments, 3) edit of the final video.

Lightwave application software Rendered on a cluster Solution available on DVD

VR Game Solution

Positive reinforcements by:

Receiving verbal feedbacks from VR characters (“keep walking we have to save the princess”)

Earning points. Points accumulated in the concrete form of diamonds, coins, magic shield, staff and glue (used to fight the dragon at the end) that adhered to a magic shirt that the child wore.

The use of the magic shirt helped the child feel more immersed in the game.

VR Game Solution

Results

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5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Pre and Post Tests

Time in Seconds

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1 2

Pre and Post Tests

Time in Seconds

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1 2

Pre and Post Tests

Time in Seconds

walk with hands free walk with tray

Average (SD) time all children pre-test to post-test condition of:

walk with glasses

Results

-) Positive feedback from subjects, their brothers and sisters and their parents

-) All of the subjects completed the training (ca. 9 hours of walking)

References

1.Bax, M., Goldstein, M., Rosenbaum, P., Leviton, A., Paneth, N (2007) Proposed definition and classification of Cerebral Palsy. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 109, 49: 571-576.

2. Palisano, R.J., Hanna, S.E., Rosenbaum, P.E., Russell, D.J., Walter, S.D., Wood, E.P, Raina, P.S., Galuppi, B.E. (1997). Development and reliability of a system to classify gross motor function of children with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 39, 214-223.

3. Economic Costs Associated with Mental Retardation, Cerebral Palsy, Hearing Loss, and Vision Impairment --- United States, 2003 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (2004), 53, 03, Jan 30.

4. Day, S.M., Wu Y.W., Strauss, D.J., Shavelle, R.M., Reynolds, R.J. (2007) Change in ambulatory ability of adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 49, 647-653.

References

5. Valvano, J. (2005). Neuromuscular systems: the plan of care. In S. Effgen (Ed), Meeting the physical therapy needs of children. Philadelphia: FA Davis. 258-266.

6. Richards, C.L., Malouin, F., Dumas, F., Marcoux, S., Lepage, C.,Menier, C. (1997). Early and intensive treadmill locomotor training for young children with cerebral palsy: a feasibility study. Pediatric Physical Therapy, 9,4, 158-165.

7. Rodgers, S., Ziviani, J. (1999) Play based occupational therapy. International Journal of Developmental Disability Education, 46, 337-365.

8. Grealy, M.A., & Heffernan, D. (2000). The rehabilitation of brain injured children: the case for including physical exercise and virtual reality. Pediatric Rehabilitation, 4, 2, 41-9.

9. Deutsch, J.E., Merians, A.S., Adamovich, S., Poizner, H.,Burdea, G.C. (2004). Development and application of virtual reality technology to improve hand use and gait of individuals post-stroke. Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, 22, 3-5, 371-86.

References

10. Held, S.L., Kott, K.M.,Young, B. (2006). Standardized Walking Obstacle Course (SWOC): reliability and validity of a functional measurement tool in children who are developing typically and atypically. Pediatric Physical Therapy, 18, 1, 23-30.