Virtual Reality Interventions to Improve Function After Stroke

Introduction

Virtual Reality (VR) is a technology that is used in many fields and includes various devices, hardware and software. It is used in research, education, evaluation and therapeutic intervention. The growing number of publications shows the interest of researchers and clinicians in VR (Caiana et al., 2016). Since VR technology is seen as a potential method for stroke rehabilitation, it has recently been used mostly in clinical rehabilitation as it is considered a promising approach in stroke rehabilitation (Kannan et al., 2019; Lee, 2019; Leng et al., 2022; Oh et al., 2019; Zhang et al., 2021), due to its qualities of immersion, interactivity, and creativity (Aminov et al., 2018; Qian et al., 2020).

Post-stroke survivors’ management requires early recovery intervention. It should begin as soon as the patient stabilizes and must continue after being back into the community (Bernhardt et al., 2008; Langhorne et al., 2018). Evidence suggests that the more they have access to their rehabilitation, the more benefits they have in their functionality and Quality of Life (QOL) (Mohd Nordin et al., 2014).

Stroke rehabilitation's finest efforts and outcomes may be undone if the community is not sufficiently mobilized (Björkdahl, 2007). When presented with a community-level rehabilitative opportunity, the incidence of functional deterioration can be reduced, with an improvement in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) (Legg, 2004; Walker et al., 2013). Additionally, patients can increase their QOL measures (Fjæartoft et al., 2004). Despite these benefits, it is necessary to include new motivational interventions, otherwise stroke survivors might not be motivated to continue repetitive and mundane therapy at home (Singh et al., 2013). VR can be a technology capable of performing self-administered exercises while bringing enjoyment and motivation to the rehabilitation (Ward et al., 2015).

Performing exercises with VR games in stroke survivors seems to be feasible and beneficial (Singh et al., 2017). Balance, functional mobility (Kim et al., 2016; Singh et al., 2013; Singh et al., 2012), and Upper Limb (UL) function (Hijmans et al., 2011; Singh et al., 2017) may be improved in stroke survivors who receive VR intervention in addition to standard physical rehabilitation (Ahmad et al., 2019). VR Games that mimic some aspects of standard neurorehabilitation programs could provide a platform for acquiring these skills. VR games could also be used as a substitute for certain parts of standard physical rehabilitation to maintain or further improve motor function and ADL in stroke survivors (Singh et al., 2013).