Evaluation instruments for physical therapy using virtual reality in stroke patients: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Neurorehabilitation
• Biomedical Engineering
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Stroke rehabilitation requires improving functional mobility, strength, and quality of life.
• Conventional therapies can become monotonous for stroke patients.
• Virtual reality (VR) offers an engaging alternative for enhancing muscle strength and balance in stroke rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review evaluation tools used in VR interventions for stroke rehabilitation.
• To identify instruments assessing balance, strength, function, quality of life, cognition, and motivation in VR stroke therapy.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature search across major databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Lilacs, IEEE Xplore).
• Inclusion of studies on stroke patients undergoing VR therapy with effectiveness assessments.
• Data extraction and review by two independent reviewers.

Main Results:

• 29 studies were included from 1836 identified articles.
• Evaluated factors included balance (12 studies), grip strength (8 studies), functionality (12 studies), and quality of life (12 studies).
• The Berg Balance Scale, Fugl-Meyer Assessment, and Stroke Impact Scale were frequently used.

Conclusions:

• The Berg Balance Scale, Fugl-Meyer Assessment, and Stroke Impact Scale are key instruments for assessing VR effectiveness in stroke rehabilitation.
• Standardized assessment tools are crucial for evaluating VR interventions.
• Further consensus on optimal assessment strategies is needed.