Application of AR and VR in hand rehabilitation: A systematic review

Margarida F Pereira; Cosima Prahm; Jonas Kolbenschlag; Eva Oliveira; Nuno F Rodrigues

doi:10.1016/j.jbi.2020.103584

Application of AR and VR in hand rehabilitation: A systematic review

J Biomed Inform. 2020 Nov:111:103584. doi: 10.1016/j.jbi.2020.103584. Epub 2020 Oct 2.

Authors

Margarida F Pereira¹, Cosima Prahm², Jonas Kolbenschlag³, Eva Oliveira⁴, Nuno F Rodrigues⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Informatics, University of Minho, Rua da Universidade, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal. Electronic address: a78065@alunos.uminho.pt.
² Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Eberhard Karls University, BG Klinik Tuebingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 95, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. Electronic address: cprahm@bgu-tuebingen.de.
³ Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Eberhard Karls University, BG Klinik Tuebingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 95, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. Electronic address: jkolbenschlag@bgu-tuebingen.de.
⁴ 2Ai, Polytechnique Institute of Cávado and Ave, EST, Lugar do Aldão, 4750-810 Vila Frescainha S. Martinho, Barcelos, Portugal. Electronic address: eoliveira@ipca.pt.
⁵ 2Ai, Polytechnique Institute of Cávado and Ave, EST, Lugar do Aldão, 4750-810 Vila Frescainha S. Martinho, Barcelos, Portugal. Electronic address: nfr@ipca.pt.

PMID: 33011296
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbi.2020.103584

Abstract

Background: The human hand is the part of the body most frequently injured in work related accidents, accounting for a third of all accidents at work and often involving surgery and long periods of rehabilitation. Several applications of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) have been used to improve the rehabilitation process. However, there is no sound evidence about the effectiveness of such applications nor the main drivers of therapeutic success.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to review the efficacy of AR and VR interventions for hand rehabilitation.

Methods: A systematic search of publications was conducted in October 2019 in IEEE Xplore, Web of Science, Cochrane library, and PubMed databases. Search terms were: (1) video game or videogame, (2) hand, (3) rehabilitation or therapy and (4) VR or AR. Articles were included if (1) were written in English, (2) were about VR or AR applications, (3) were for hand rehabilitation, (4) the intervention had tests on at least ten patients with injuries or diseases which affected hand function and (5) the intervention had baseline or intergroup comparisons (AR or VR intervention group versus conventional physical therapy group). PRISMA protocol guidelines were followed to filter and assess the articles.

Results: From the eight selected works, six showed improvements in the intervention group, and two no statistical differences between groups. We were able to identify motivators of patients' adherence, namely real-time feedback to the patients, challenge, and increased individualized difficulty. Automated tracking, easy integration in the home setting and the recording of accurate metrics may increase the scalability and facilitate healthcare professionals' assessments.

Conclusions: This systematic review provided advantages and drivers for the success of AR/VR application for hand rehabilitation. The available evidence suggests that patients can benefit from the use of AR or VR interventions for hand rehabilitation.

Keywords: Augmented reality; Rehabilitation; Training systems; Video games; Virtual reality.

Publication types

Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Activities of Daily Living
Augmented Reality*
Humans
Video Games*
Virtual Reality*