ABSTRACT

gloves on the upper extremity function, muscle activation, daily activities, and quality of life in stroke patients. Methods: A total of 31 patients after a stroke were randomly assigned to a study group of 16 patients and a control group of 15 patients. For the experimental group, virtual reality-based upper limb rehabilitation using smart gloves was applied, and for the control group, occupational therapy was given. The experiment was conducted for 25 sessions, 5 times a week for 30 min. A Manual Function Test, surface electromyography, Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index, and Stroke Impact Scale 3.0 were applied as pre- and post-assessments. Results: Virtual reality-based upper limb rehabilitation using smart gloves showed significant differences in upper extremity function, muscle activation, daily activities, and quality of life. Conclusion: Virtual reality-based upper limb rehabilitation using smart gloves is an effective occupational therapy method for improving the upper limb function, muscle activation, activities of daily living, and quality of life in stroke patients.