Table 2.
Baseline characteristics of the participants.
| Characteristics | Intervention (n = 25) |
Control (n = 25) |
p value for between-group difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | |||
| Mean (SD) | 56.4 (12.9) | 59.1 (10.2) | 0.41 |
| Median (range) | 58.0 (28.0–75.0) | 60.0 (34.0–75.0) | |
| Sex, n (%) | 0.77 | ||
| Male | 16 (64.0%) | 17 (68.0%) | |
| Female | 9 (36.0%) | 8 (32.0%) | |
| Education received (years), n (%) | 0.27 | ||
| ≤6 | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (4.0%) | |
| 6–9 | 24 (96.0%) | 19 (76.0%) | |
| >9 | 1 (4.0%) | 5 (20.0%) | |
| Stroke type, n (%) | 0.77 | ||
| Ischaemic | 17 (68.0%) | 16 (64.0%) | |
| Haemorrhagic | 8 (32.0%) | 9 (36.0%) | |
| Time since stroke onset at baseline (days) | |||
| Mean (SD) | 36.1 (24.2) | 46.0 (74.2) | 0.53 |
| Median (range) | 34.0 (7.0–107.0) | 19.0 (5.0–357.0) | |
| Stroke-affected side, n (%) | >0.99 | ||
| Left | 13 (52.0%) | 13 (52.0%) | |
| Right | 12 (48.0%) | 12 (48.0%) | |
| Dominant hand, n (%) | 0.35 | ||
| Left | 1 (4.0%) | 4 (16.0%) | |
| Right | 24 (96.0%) | 21 (84.0%) | |
| Brunnstrom stage of stroke recovery for the affected arm, n (%) | 0.69 | ||
| Stage 3 | 14 (56.0%) | 11 (44.0%) | |
| Stage 4 | 6 (24.0%) | 8 (32.0%) | |
| Stage 5 | 5 (20.0%) | 6 (24.0%) | |
| Comorbidities, n (%) | |||
| Hypertension | 20 (80.0%) | 21 (84.0%) | >0.99 |
| Diabetes | 13 (52.0%) | 1 (4.0%) | <0.001 |
| Hyperlipidaemia | 5 (20.0%) | 5 (20.0%) | >0.99 |
| Vascular disease | 4 (16.0%) | 5 (20.0%) | >0.99 |
| Heart disease | 4 (16.0%) | 4 (16.0%) | >0.99 |
| Musculoskeletal disorder | 1 (4.0%) | 1 (4.0%) | >0.99 |
| No comorbidities | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (4.0%) | >0.99 |
| Conventional therapeutic modalities, n (%) | |||
| Physical therapy | 25 (100.0%) | 23 (92.0%) | 0.49 |
| Functional electric stimulation | 25 (100.0%) | 23 (92.0%) | 0.49 |
| Occupational therapy | 25 (100.0%) | 21 (84.0%) | 0.11 |
| Aerobic exercises | 23 (92.0%) | 21 (84.0%) | 0.67 |
| Acupuncture | 23 (92.0%) | 21 (84.0%) | 0.67 |
| Soft robotic glove-assisted hand training | 16 (64.0%) | 10 (40.0%) | 0.09 |
| Intermittent pneumatic compression therapy for lower extremity | 6 (24.0%) | 5 (20.0%) | 0.73 |
| Facial massage | 3 (12.0%) | 5 (20.0%) | 0.70 |
| Speech therapy | 2 (8.0%) | 2 (8.0%) | >0.99 |
| Transcranial magnetic stimulation | 1 (4.0%) | 3 (12.0%) | 0.61 |
| Equipment-assisted standing training | 2 (8.0%) | 1 (4.0%) | >0.99 |
| Experience of using a computer, n (%) | 0.19 | ||
| Never | 17 (68.0%) | 19 (76.0%) | |
| Rarely | 2 (8.0%) | 5 (20.0%) | |
| Sometimes | 3 (12.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Often | 3 (12.0%) | 1 (4.0%) | |
| Always | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Experience of using VR, n (%) | >0.99 | ||
| Never | 24 (96.0%) | 24 (96.0%) | |
| Rarely | 1 (4.0%) | 1 (4.0%) | |
| Sometimes | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Often | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Always | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Total duration of VR exercises/game playing (minutes) a | |||
| Mean (SD) | 296.04 (132.97) | 267.40 (162.56) | 0.50 |
| Median | 350.0 | 350.0 | |
| Range | 35.0–420.0 | 35.0–420.0 |
a
One intervention participant did not receive virtual reality exercises because the participant withdrew from the study immediately after enrolment.
SD, standard deviation; VR, virtual reality.