Reinforced Feedback in Virtual Environment

The patients allocated to RFVE group, will be treated using the "Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System" (VRRS). During the virtual therapy the subject will be seated in front of the wall screen grasping a sensorized real object with the affected hand. If the grasp is not possible the sensors will be fixed on a glove worn by the patient. The real object held by the subject, equipped with electromagnetic sensors, is matched to the virtual handling object. Thereafter, the patient moved the real object (e.g. ball) following the trajectory of the corresponding virtual object displayed on the computer screen in accordance with the requested virtual task.

The patients randomized to the Traditional Neuromotor Rehabilitation group will be asked to perform exercises for postural control, exercises for hand pre-configuration, exercises for the stimulation of manipulation and functional skills, exercises for proximal-distal coordination. All the exercises will be performed with or without the assistance of a physiotherapist. The upper limb motricity will be trained with progressive complexity. To achieve the requested goal (in a horizontal or vertical plane) patients will be asked to perform various movements, for example: shoulder flexion and extension, shoulder abduction and adduction, shoulder internal and external rotation and shoulder circumduction, elbow flexion and extension, forearm pronation and supination, hand grasping-release and clenching into a fist.