Una experiencia de ejercicio terapéutico gamificado en un paciente con síndrome Wernicke- Korsakoff
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Introduction: Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) is a brain disorder caused by a thiamine deficiency, the most common cause being alcoholism. Physiotherapy focuses its treatment on improving balance, gait, and coordination, and cognitive aspects must be addressed. The use of immersive virtual reality (IVR) could address these aspects. Objective: To report a case of using IVR to manage the symptoms of a patient with WKS. Methodology: A 57-year-old male (WKS 1 year since diagnosis) used IVR for 16 weeks, 2 sessions/week. Physical and functional capacity, quality of life, neurocognition, and intrinsic aspects of IVR were assessed. Results: Positive trend in the physical and functional variables: grip strength (improvements of 8.33% in the dominant hand and 4% in the non-dominant hand), lower limb mobility and strength (improvements of 5.74%), functionality and dynamic balance (improvements of 14.22%), and gait and risk of falls (improvements of 18.12%). No changes in quality of life or neurocognitive tests. Discussion: In the absence of similar studies, the improvements found, while not clinically relevant, support the idea that an IVR and therapeutic exercise intervention could maintain and/or improve the health status of a person with WKS. Conclusions: IVR in a patient with WKS of alcoholic origin proved to be a feasible and safe intervention, with improvements in gait, balance, mobility, and lower limb strength. These findings pave the way for future research into this syndrome that could confirm the benefits that IVR could provide to these patients.
Source: Retos
Authors: Pablo Campo-Prieto, Jose María Cancela-Carral, Stella Maris Tejerina Peña, Gustavo Rodríguez-Fuentes
Institutions: Universidade de Vigo, Servicio Gallego de Salud
Language: English
Subfield: Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $215
OpenAlex ID: W4413988006
