Upper Extremity Rehabilitation Using Fully Immersive Virtual Reality Games With a Head Mount Display: A Feasibility...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Virtual reality (VR) systems are increasingly explored for stroke patient rehabilitation.
• However, research on fully immersive VR using head-mount displays (HMDs) for upper extremity recovery post-stroke remains limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility, preliminary efficacy, and usability of a fully immersive VR program for upper-limb rehabilitation in stroke patients.
• To evaluate a VR system utilizing a commercially available HMD for stroke recovery.

Main Methods:

• A feasibility study conducted in two rehabilitation centers involving twelve stroke patients with upper extremity weakness.
• Participants underwent 10 sessions (30 minutes each) of VR training using an HMD (HTC Vive) with five distinct upper extremity tasks.
• Functional outcomes (Action Research Arm Test, Box and Block Test, modified Barthel Index) and usability were assessed pre- and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• Nine out of twelve participants completed all VR training sessions without reported adverse effects like motion sickness.
• Patients completing the program demonstrated significant functional improvements across all measured outcomes (P < .05).
• Overall participant satisfaction with the VR rehabilitation program was high, averaging 6.3 ± 0.8 on a 7-point Likert scale.

Conclusions:

• A fully immersive VR rehabilitation program employing an HMD is a feasible approach for upper extremity recovery in stroke patients.
• The study indicates no serious adverse effects associated with this VR intervention, suggesting a safe therapeutic option.