Virtual Occupational Therapy Application (VOTA) Demonstrates Efficacy in Completed Clinical Trials

Posted on February 28, 2017 in Product Releases, Research Updates

VOTA is a software system, used with the Microsoft Kinect, intended to be used to support repetitive task practice for rehabilitation of adults in a clinical or home setting consistent with Standard of Care for upper extremity (UE) rehabilitation. The system is based on simulated activities of daily living (ADLs) for the UE within a virtual world. VOTA uses a Microsoft Kinect Sensor to track patient shoulder and elbow movements, which are translated into equivalent movements of an avatar that represents the patient in a virtual environment.

An NIH-funded clinical study was conducted from February 2016 to February 2017 to assess the efficacy of the system for use in UE rehabilitation. The study was performed under an NICHD Phase II SBIR grant (2R44HD071745-02) to Barron Associates, Inc.  Primary investigational hypothesis was that practice of virtual ADLs would lead to an improvement in UE motor function in chronic stroke survivors, as measured by an UE sub-scale of the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMEU) and the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT). A total of 15 stroke patients meeting study inclusion and exclusion criteria completed 8 weeks of virtual ADL therapy.

Analysis of study results confirmed the primary investigational hypothesis. Mean improvement in the FMUE score (6.1; 95% CI: [3.8, 8.4], p<0.001) was both significant and clinically important. WFMT results likewise showed significant improvement in UE motor function. VOTA has thus been shown to be efficacious for improving UE motor status in stroke patients.

VOTA_1 VOTA_2

Details on the VOTA study can be found at:

https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02706912?term=NCT02706912&rank=1

VOTA is now being marketed as SaeboVR under an exclusive marketing and distribution agreement with Saebo, Inc. Saebo is currently taking sign-ups for 10-day free trials of the SaeboVR system, which will be available in Summer 2017. For more information, contact Saebo, Inc. (www.saebo.com,  888.284.5433).