Rehabilitation using virtual gaming for Hospital and hOMe-Based training for the Upper limb in acute and subacute Stroke (RHOMBUS II): results of a feasibility randomised controlled trial

Tom Butcher, Alyson Warland, Victoria Stewart, Basaam Aweid, Arul Samiyappan, Elmar Kal, Jennifer Ryan, Dimitrios A. Athanasiou, Karen Baker, Guillem Singla-Buxarrais, Nana Anokye, Carole Pound, Francesca Gowing, Meriel Norris, Cherry Kilbride*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety, feasibility and acceptability of the Neurofenix platform for upper-limb rehabilitation in acute and subacute stroke.

DESIGN: A feasibility randomised controlled trial with a parallel process evaluation.

SETTING: Acute Stroke Unit and participants' homes (London, UK).

PARTICIPANTS: 24 adults ( >18 years), acute and subacute poststroke, new unilateral weakness, scoring 9-25 on the Motricity Index (elbow and shoulder), with sufficient cognitive and communicative abilities to participate.

INTERVENTIONS: Participants randomised to the intervention or control group on a 2:1 ratio. The intervention group (n=16) received usual care plus the Neurofenix platform for 7 weeks. The control group (n=8) received usual care only.

OUTCOMES: Safety was assessed through adverse events (AEs), pain, spasticity and fatigue. Feasibility was assessed through training and support requirements and intervention fidelity. Acceptability was assessed through a satisfaction questionnaire. Impairment, activity and participation outcomes were also collected at baseline and 7 weeks to assess their suitability for use in a definitive trial.

RANDOMISATION: Computer-generated, allocation sequence concealed by opaque, sealed envelopes.

BLINDING: Participants and assessors were not blinded; statistician blinded for data processing and analysis.

RESULTS: 192 stroke survivors were screened for eligibility, and 24 were recruited and randomised. Intervention group: n=16, mean age 66.5 years; median 9.5 days post stroke.

CONTROL GROUP: n=8, mean age 64.6 years; median 17.5 days post stroke. Three participants withdrew before the 7-week assessment, n=21 included in the analysis (intervention group n=15; control group n=6). No significant group differences in fatigue, spasticity, pain scores or total number of AEs. The median (IQR) time to train participants was 98 (64) min over 1-3 sessions. Participants trained with the platform for a median (range) of 11 (1-58) hours, equating to 94 min extra per week. The mean satisfaction score was 34.9 out of 40.

CONCLUSION: The Neurofenix platform is safe, feasible and well accepted as an adjunct to usual care in acute and subacute stroke rehabilitation. There was a wide range of engagement with the platform in a cohort of stroke survivors which was varied in age and level of impairment. Recruitment, training and support were manageable and completion of data was good, indicating that a future randomised controlled trial would be feasible.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN11440079.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere089672
Number of pages12
JournalBMJ Open
Volume15
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 28 Jan 2025

Keywords

  • Aged
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Stroke Rehabilitation/methods
  • Stroke/complications
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Upper Extremity/physiopathology
  • Video Games

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