Abstract
Neurorehabilitation for stroke is important for upper limb motor recovery. Conventional rehabilitation such as occupational therapy has been used, but novel technologies are expected to open new opportunities for better recovery. Virtual reality (VR) is a technology with a set of informatics that provides interactive environments to patients. VR can enhance neuroplasticity and recovery after a stroke by providing more intensive, repetitive, and engaging training due to several advantages, including: (1) tasks with various difficulty levels for rehabilitation, (2) augmented real-time feedback, (3) more immersive and engaging experiences, (4) more standardized rehabilitation, and (5) safe simulation of real-world activities of daily living. In this comprehensive narrative review of the application of VR in motor rehabilitation after stroke, mainly for the upper limbs, we cover: (1) the technologies used in VR rehabilitation, including sensors; (2) the clinical application of and evidence for VR in stroke rehabilitation; and (3) considerations for VR application in stroke rehabilitation. Meta-analyses for upper limb VR rehabilitation after stroke were identified by an online search of Ovid-MEDLINE, Ovid-EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and KoreaMed. We expect that this review will provide insights into successful clinical applications or trials of VR for motor rehabilitation after stroke.
1. Introduction
Stroke is one of the leading causes of disability and socioeconomic burden worldwide [1]. Although the age-standardized stroke incidence has decreased in most regions, the growth of aging populations, who are at risk of stroke, may lead to an increase in the crude incidence of stroke [2]. According to a policy statement by an American Heart Association working group, approximately 4% of US adults will have a stroke by 2030 [3]. Stroke-related mortality has shown a remarkable decline due to better management in the acute phase, which means there are more people living with disabilities after stroke [1,3].Upper limb hemiparesis is one of the most common impairments after stroke [4] and is associated with activity limitation and a worse quality of life [5,6,7]. Therefore, adequate recovery of upper limb weakness is necessary. Spontaneous motor recovery occurring up to one year after stroke can be accelerated with active rehabilitation strategies [8,9]. However, the effects of conventional rehabilitation modalities are limited and novel therapeutic approaches are required [10].Virtual rehabilitation using virtual reality (VR) technology is a novel promising modality for motor rehabilitation after stroke [11] that can add beneficial components to current rehabilitation strategies. Considering motor learning theory, task-oriented, intensive (that is, more doses and movements), and repetitive training is essential for promoting neuroplasticity and thereby, motor recovery (Figure 1) [12]. Several advantages of virtual rehabilitation can be suggested in terms of rehabilitation intensity and motivation. VR can motivate patients’ participation by increasing enjoyment and gamification—“the process of adding game-design elements and game principles to something (e.g., task) so as to encourage participation”—thereby increasing task repetition (intensity) [13,14,15]. Flexible and individualized rehabilitation design is possible according to the patient’s motor impairment, which makes the step-by-step approach possible. A low-cost virtual rehabilitation system can be used as an adjunctive therapy to conventional rehabilitation, with less direct supervision by a therapist [16], and it can also be considered for use as a tele- or home-based rehabilitation tool [17]. Functional assessment and digital tracking of patients’ progress is possible using motion sensors combined with VR systems for rehabilitation [18].
Figure 1. Approaches to promote neural plasticity.In this comprehensive narrative review of the application of VR in motor rehabilitation after stroke, we will cover (1) the technologies used in VR rehabilitation including sensors, haptic devices, and VR displays; (2) the clinical application and evidence for VR in motor rehabilitation in stroke; and (3) considerations for VR application in stroke rehabilitation. We expect that this review will provide insights into successful clinical applications or trials of VR for motor rehabilitation after stroke.[…]
TBI Rehabilitation 