BACKGROUND: Technological approaches such as virtual reality therapy, video- based game therapy, telerehabilitation, and robotic rehabilitation have been increasing in stroke rehabilitation nowadays. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of video game-based hand rehabilitation program on motor functions and functional skills of the hand in individuals with stroke. METHODS: 30 individuals with stroke were participated in study. Participants were randomly divided into two groups as video game-based hand rehabilitation (VG) and task-oriented exercise group (TOG). A video game-based rehabilitation program was administered via the Leap Motion Controller (LMC) in addition to the conventional physical therapy performed in the VG group. In the TOG group, a task-oriented hand rehabilitation program was applied combining with the conventional physical therapy. In both groups, therapy programs were completed in a total of 20 sessions, 5 sessions per week. Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity Motor Rating Scale (FMA-UE), Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test (MMDT) were used to evaluate hand functionality. Duruoz Hand Index (DHI) was used to evaluate activities of daily living. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed for FMA-UE (p = 0.01; p = 0.01), WMFT (p = 0.01; p = 0.01), MMDT (p = 0.01; p = 0.04) and DEI (p = 0.01; p = 0.01) score in both groups for intragroup analysis. FMA-UE (p = 0.01) and WMFT (p = 0.01) total scores and DHI kitchen sub-scores (p = 0.01) showed significant improvement in favors of VG in intergroup analysis. CONCLUSION: A video game-based hand therapy program combining with conventional therapy is effective for targeting functional skills in individuals with stroke.

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