VERARE_2 Efficacy of the Observation of Virtual Motor Actions for the Improvement of Gait in Patients With ICU-weakness (VERARE_2)

VERARE_2 Efficacy of the Observation of Virtual Motor Actions for the Improvement of Gait in Patients With ICU-weakness

VERARE_2 Efficacy of the Observation of Virtual Motor Actions for the Improvement of Gait in Patients With ICU Weakness

After hospitalization in Intensive Care (Intensive Care Unit or Continuing Care Unit), approximately 50% of patients usually present with intensive ICU-weakness, i.e. damage to the nerves and muscles secondary to immobilization and to the treatments that must have been used. This condition will delay the resumption of walking in these patients, their discharge from hospital and impair their autonomy in the daily life. The recent international literature is in favor of early rehabilitative management of these patients, which should ideally be started in the intensive care unit. However, this is not always possible, due to the possible lack of physiotherapists in the services on the one hand, due to the fatigue of the population concerned and the existence of unstable medical conditions which do not always allow the use of recommended rehabilitation techniques on the other hand. Virtual Reality (VR) environments are widely used for the assessment and rehabilitation of patients with neurological pathology. VR allows the user to be active in simulated activities and offers many advantages for the rehabilitation of motor functions in patients with neurological diseases. VR tools used to create action observation, motor imagery and sensations or even the illusion of movement in particular, have already shown their effectiveness in recovering and improving walking in different populations, especially after a stroke, in patients with Parkinson's Disease or Multiple Sclerosis. The role of the embodiment in VR appears promising in immersing participants in a controlled environment and creating movement's illusions. The Virtual Reality tool designed consists of virtual environments presented using a Virtual Reality headset where an avatar (double) of the hospitalized patient will be represented, who will perform a walking motor task (involving his lower limbs ) in several different virtual environments (sets). In the present study named VERARE_2, the patient will be asked to observe walking actions and imagine performing them as they will be performed by the avatar in the virtual environment. This VERARE_2 protocol aims to assess the effectiveness of the Observation of Virtual Motor Actions on the speed of gait recovery in hospitalized patients with IUC-weakness and in the intensive care units and continuing care units of the Rennes University Hospital.

Pilot, single-center, prospective, randomized, open-label, superiority study with 2 parallel groups (1: 1): experimental group (Virtual Reality) versus control group (Relaxation).

If the patient is included in the Virtual Reality group, they will be asked to observe 1 time per day for 9 days for 5 minutes Virtual Motor Actions (avatar moving in a virtual environment) using a headset. Virtual Reality, followed by 5 minutes of relaxation performed using soothing music played through headphones.

If the patient is included in the Relaxation group, they will be offered 10 minutes of relaxation performed using soothing music played through headphones once a day for 9 days.

If the patient is included in the Virtual Reality group, they will be asked to observe 1 time per day for 9 days for 5 minutes Virtual Motor Actions (avatar moving in a virtual environment) using a headset. Virtual Reality, followed by 5 minutes of relaxation performed using soothing music played through headphones.

If the patient is included in the Relaxation group, they will be offered 10 minutes of relaxation performed using soothing music played through headphones once a day for 9 days.

Assessment of walking before the start of the first session, the day after the last session and 1 month after inclusion: 10-meter test (time in seconds)

Assessment of walking before the start of the first session, the day after the last session and 1 month after inclusion: 6-minute walk test (need for breaks, scale of Borg, existence of a desaturation)

Assessment of walking before the start of the first session, the day after the last session and 1 month after inclusion: recovery time of walking over 10 meters without human or technical assistance

Balance assessment before the start of the first session, the day after the last session and 1 month from inclusion: Berg Balance Scale Berg's Balance Rating Scale consists of 14 tests that assess static and dynamic balance. Static balance (standing without movement of the feet) is measured by the following tasks: Feet glued together Unipodal support Tandem (one foot in front of the other) Eyes closed Trunk rotation Dynamic balance is measured by the following tasks: 360º swivel Pick up an object Get up and sit down Seated transfer from one chair to another All items except one are performed standing. They are rated on a 5-point ordinal scale (0-4) based on the ability to perform the movement or task independently, and criteria of time and distance. The total score varies between 0 and 56 points; a high score corresponds to a better balance [3, 4]. A score of 0 to 20 is associated with disturbed balance, 21 to 40 for acceptable balance and 41 to 56 for good balance.

Balance assessment before the start of the first session, the day after the last session and 1 month from inclusion: Timed Up and Go test (time in seconds)

Balance assessment before the start of the first session, the day after the last session and 1 month from inclusion: test of the 10 chair lifts (duration in seconds, existence of a desaturation, Borg scale)

Strength assessment before the start of the first session, the day after the last session and 1 month after inclusion: MRC (Medical research council) testing of the lower limbs 0 No muscle contraction. Muscle contraction without movement. Movement in the plane of the bed. Movement against gravity. Movement against resistance. Normal muscle strength.

Assessment of autonomy before the start of the first session, the day after the last session and 1 month from inclusion using the FIM (Functional Independence Measure) FIM scores range from 1 to 7. The grading categories range from "total assistance with helper = 1" to "complete independence with no helper=7.

Assessment of the recovery time from a possible 10-meter walk without human or technical assistance in this population (in days between the day of hospitalization in intensive care and the day of recovery from a possible 10-meter walk without human assistance neither technique, a criterion which is noted in the patient's medical file by his physiotherapist in current clinical practice)

Acceptance questionnaire (established by the sponsor) : 54 items ranged from 1 to 7 (1 : not at all; 7 : completely) and 1 grade out of 10 and 1 to percentage

Assessment of tiredness using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) from 0 = no fatigue to 7 = intense fatigue, at the end of each session with the Virtual Reality tool

Number of participants reporting any adverse effect during the intervention by open question at the end of each session with the Virtual Reality tool

Inclusion Criteria: Patient hospitalized in one of the ICU departments or Continuing Medical or Surgical Care Units of the Rennes University Hospital for less than 3 months, and presenting muscle weakness of the lower limbs with a MRC motor test on the main muscle segments giving a score less than or equal to 48/60 (diagnostic criterion of ICU Weakness) Person of full age; Affiliation to a social security scheme; Free, informed and signed written consent. Exclusion Criteria: History of a central neurological event with clinical repercussions Gait disorders pre-existing to hospitalization in intensive care and limiting the walking perimeter (declaration by the patient) or requiring the use of technical assistance; Uncontrolled epilepsy (seizure less than 6 months old); Adults who are the subject of legal protection (safeguard of justice, curatorship, guardianship), persons deprived of their liberty; Non-French speaking person; Pregnant or breastfeeding woman.