Effect of Home-Based Virtual Reality Training on Upper Extremity Recovery in Patients With Stroke: Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Neurorehabilitation
• Digital Health
• Rehabilitation Technology

Background:

• Stroke is a primary cause of long-term disability, frequently leading to upper extremity dysfunction.
• Traditional rehabilitation faces barriers like resource access and patient motivation.
• Home-based virtual reality (VR) offers a promising, interactive alternative for stroke recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and evaluate the impact of home-based VR interventions on upper extremity function in stroke patients.
• To synthesize current evidence on the effectiveness of this emerging rehabilitation approach.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review following PRISMA guidelines.
• Searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL for English RCTs up to June 30, 2024.
• Included studies on stroke patients with upper extremity dysfunction undergoing home-based VR. Assessed quality using PEDro scale; performed narrative synthesis due to heterogeneity.

Main Results:

• Eight RCTs involving 392 participants were analyzed.
• Home-based VR training positively impacts upper extremity function recovery and motor control in stroke survivors.
• Customized VR systems demonstrated greater efficacy for moderate to severe impairments compared to commercial systems.

Conclusions:

• Home-based VR training is beneficial for upper extremity rehabilitation in stroke patients with diverse functional levels.
• Heterogeneity in study design and outcome measures limits current conclusion reliability.
• Future research requires larger, standardized RCTs with long-term follow-up and integration into comprehensive, patient-centered programs.