RGV Stroke Survivor Makes Strides in Restoration By means of Digital Actuality Gaming Analysis at UTHealth Houston

Newswise — Evan Cadena was 19 years outdated when he suffered an ischemic stroke in May 2023. It was the third time a stroke induced him to lose mobility in the suitable aspect of his physique since he was 16, when medical doctors within the Rio Grande Valley discovered an arteriovenous malformation, or AVM, in his mind, a tangle of vessels that creates irregular connections between arteries and veins.

The strokes Evan suffered had been a results of embolization surgical procedures he underwent in 2020, 2022, and 2023, throughout which medical doctors blocked blood circulate to the AVM. Ischemic strokes are a doable complication of embolization however don’t at all times happen. 

In addition to struggling a number of strokes, Evan confronted obstacles and problems that included pulmonary embolisms, or blood clots, in every of his lungs, a journey that led his medical doctors to affectionately discuss with him as “the miracle kid.” 

Determined to seek out the most effective care and rehabilitation for her son, Evan’s mom, Janie Lazo, didn’t hesitate to make the six-hour drive from La Feria, Texas, to Houston when the AVM Alliance referred Evan to UTHealth Houston. 

“I will travel the world for Evan,” Janie stated. “Anything that they say will help, I will move mountains to try and figure it out.” 

Evan was in the end referred to Seema Aggarwal, PhD, APRN, AGNP-C, assistant professor within the Department of Internal Medicine at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, who in 2023 was main analysis to review the doable advantages of digital actuality video games for stroke survivors. 

“I was in the process of trying to think how we could get more rehab to people who live in rural areas or who can’t come in because of transportation issues,” Aggarwal stated. “We have so many patients who go through rehab, but they want to continue. Rehab isn’t exactly fun, and gaming is.” 

Across 10 to 12 classes with a VR headset, Evan and different members performed a sport known as Job Simulator, during which they accomplished completely different duties as an workplace assistant, chef, automobile mechanic, and retailer clerk. The duties, which included answering the telephone, making a sandwich, and baking, elevated in issue over time. Aggarwal chosen Job Simulator as a result of it may very well be performed whereas sitting down, increasing the advantages to extra stroke survivors. 

As Evan performed, the sport was projected on a display screen that may very well be considered by Aggarwal, his mother, and occupational therapists. 

For Aggarwal, the outcomes had been astounding. Not solely was Evan extra motivated and engaged in his rehabilitation, however he was in a position to carry out actions along with his proper arm whereas enjoying the sport that his occupational therapist couldn’t elicit when testing his arm earlier than enjoying the sport.

Aggarwal stated Evan’s concentrate on the sport, and never solely on bettering his motion, could have helped him make that stride. 

“That’s the interesting thing with stroke,” Aggarwal stated. “Yes, your arm is paralyzed, but it starts in the brain.” 

For Aggarwal, the analysis can also be private. In 2022, as she was recovering from surgical procedure and radiation to deal with her breast most cancers, her son inspired her to play VR video games with him. Around the identical time, her father suffered a stroke. As Aggarwal engaged in her personal type of rehab, she puzzled if her father – or different stroke sufferers – may benefit from the video games, too. 

“That was what prompted the whole study; we were really just thinking about my dad,” she stated. 

At the tip of the research, a number of members bought VR headsets to make use of at dwelling, Aggarwal stated. Evan owned a VR headset earlier than the analysis, however it went principally unused till he participated in Aggarwal’s research, his mother stated. 

“Not only did he get more motivation to keep pushing, but it raised his spirit up a little bit more,” she stated. 

Now, at 21, Evan continues to play VR video games to construct his energy. 

“I was a little agitated at times and still get agitated from time to time,” Evan stated of his expertise utilizing the VR set for bodily rehabilitation. 

But even by way of the bodily challenges, his participation in Aggarwal’s analysis had a stunning second profit: Gaining the bodily energy to play video games on-line has allowed Evan to reconnect with buddies and bridge the social hole misplaced after his diagnoses as a teen. 

“I’ve been playing online VR and Xbox more often, and talking more,” Evan stated. 

After seeing the progress amongst sufferers like Evan, Aggarwal is optimistic about persevering with her analysis with VR by conducting randomized managed trials that can hopefully help increasing the gaming method to extra stroke survivors.

“Evan was one of the few people in the study who drove a long distance to participate,” Aggarwal stated. “That really struck me as how needed this was.”