Background and aim: Virtual Reality is a computer technology with virtual environment and objects, which people manipulate virtual environment through active participation. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of practice in virtual environment on upper limb function of children with spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsy.
Materials and Methods: In this single blinded, randomized, controlled trial, 16 children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy were evaluated in a simple random sampling of Ahvaz city in 2 groups (virtual reality and control). Treatment protocol consisted of one and half hours sessions of practice in virtual environment for 4-week, every other day. Measures were conducted pre, post and 3-month after the treatment period by Pediatrics Motor Activity Log and Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor proficiency. Sample randomization and data analysis by analysis of variance with repeated measures were conducted by SPSS-16 software in alpha level set at 0.05.
Results: Subjects in virtual reality group showed significant improvement (p<0.01) in post-test measures (bruininks-oseretsky test of motor proficiency, speed and dexterity: mean change from 0.25±0.06 to 1.22±0.23). Results were retained for both groups in follow up session.
Conclusion: Virtual reality technology through intensive and repetitive practice in an interactive and motivational environment is a promising method to improve upper limb function of children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy.

Background and Aim: One of the impaired senses in patients with chronic hemiparesis is the sole cutaneous sense. The role of this sense in maintaining the functional balance and mobility is still controversial in these patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the threshold of sole cutaneous sense and functional balance and mobility tests in patient with chronic hemiparesis.

Material and Methods: In this correlational study, seventeen chronic stroke patients by mean age of 59.10 (13.31) years and mean time after injury of 31.70 (23.61) months were selected by simple non– probability method. Functional Reach with ankle and hip strategy (FR), Step Test (ST) in affected and non- affected foot, Bend– Reach test (BR), Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were used for assessment of functional balance and mobility and Semmes- Weinstein monofilaments test was used to measure the cutaneous sense of seven different points of sole in affected and non– affected foot.

Results: The main effect of foot (affected and non– affected foot) and points (seven different points of sole) of cutaneous sense threshold was significant (P˂0.0001) and interaction effect of foot ˣ points not significant (P=0.2).

The cutaneous sense threshold in all seven points of affected sole showed significant (p˂0.05) low to high correlation (r= 0.24-0.81) with all of functional balance and mobility tests. There was not significant correlation between cutaneous sense threshold in seven points of non- affected foot and any of functional balance and mobility tests, with the exception of cutaneous sense threshold of the little toe floor with total, dynamic and static score of BBS, FR with ankle and hip strategy and TUG; cutaneous sense threshold of big toe with static score of BBS and FR with hip strategy; and medial border of sole with static score of BBS and FR with ankle strategy.

Conclusion: The cutaneous sense threshold of affected sole has a more correlation with functional balance and mobility tests. The cutaneous sense threshold of sole in big toe and medial border points has a significant role in functional balance and mobility tests in patients with hemiparesis.

Keywords: Functional balance and mobility, Cutaneous sense threshold, Hemiparesis