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Background: Immersive virtual reality has the potential to motivate and challenge patients who need and want to relearn movements in the process of neurorehabilitation. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and user acceptance of an innovative immersive virtual reality system (head-mounted display) used in combination with robot-assisted gait training in subjects suffering from neurological diseases. Methods: Fifteen participants suffering from cerebrovascular accident or spinal cord injury completed a single session of immersive virtual reality using a head-mounted display during a Lokomat® gait session. Training parameters and safety indicators were collected, and acceptance was investigated among participants and therapists. Results: The results suggest that an immersive virtual reality system is feasible in terms of safety and tolerance. Furthermore, the very positive overall acceptance of the system suggests that it has the potential to be included in a robot-assisted gait training session using Lokomat®. Conclusion: Overall, this study demonstrates that a fully immersive virtual reality system based on a head-mounted display is both feasible and well received by cerebrovascular accident and spinal cord injury patients and their therapists during robot-assisted gait training. This study suggests that such a virtual reality system could be a viable alternative to the screen-based training games currently used in neurorehabilitation. It may be especially suitable for enhancing patient motivation and adherence to training, particularly if the application is enjoyable and not mentally taxing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most robotic gait assisted devices are designed to provide constant assistance during the training without taking into account each patient's functional ability. The Lokomat offers an assist-as-needed control via the integrated exercise "Adaptive Gait Support" (AGS), which adapts the robotic support based on the patient's abilities. The aims of this study were to examine the feasibility and characteristics of the AGS during long-term application. Ten patients suffering from neurological diseases underwent an 8-week Lokomat training with the AGS. They additionally performed conventional walking tests and a robotic force measurement. The difference between robotic support during adaptive and conventional training and the relationship between the robotic assessment and the conventional walking and force tests were examined. The results show that AGS is feasible during long-term application in a heterogeneous population. The support during AGS training in most of the gait phases was significantly lower than during conventional Lokomat training. A relationship between the robotic support level determined by the AGS and conventional walking tests was revealed. Moreover, combining the isometric force data and AGS data could divide patients into clusters, based on their ability to generate high forces and their level of motor control. AGS shows a high potential in assessing patients' walking ability, as well as in providing challenging training, e.g., by automatically adjusting the robotic support throughout the whole gait cycle and enabling training at lower robotic support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction In Italy degree in physiotherapy became possible since 2001/2004 with university reform (DM 04/02/2001; DM 270/04). Physiotherapy Education Program is three years long and must be founded on a scientific basis as every other university education. A degree attainment requires the dissertation of a thesis. The thesis is an essay concerning issues related to disciplinary program. It has a central role in education: it marks the transition from the status of graduate student to a member of the scientific community, encourages familiarity with the research process, and allows to evaluate the education quality. It is therefore important to enhance this final work. Quality criteria should guarantee a fair judgement and an agreement between examiners and supervisors. Objective To develop an instrument for quality assessment of the physiotherapy theses. Materials and Methods A literature analysis was performed on the main biomedical databases. Bibliography has been analyzed critically and an evaluation tool has been established through a synthesis process. Results Few studies have been published especially in rehabilitation professions. Two main approaches in evaluation of theses result: holistic and analytical. Generally analytical tools are preferred in health care and assessment of scientific articles. Therefore our assessment proposal is the result of the evaluation of non-medical health professions theses and scientific articles. Conclusions This work created a tool based on objective and scientifical criteria to assess physiotherapy thesis. It could be used to obtain a standard of evaluation and to support best degree projects. Further studies are required to validation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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