The Clinical Utility of Virtual Reality in Neurorehabilitation: A Systematic Review

Journal of Central Nervous System Disease, 2018 · DOI: 10.1177/1179573518813541 · Published: January 1, 2018

Assistive Technology Neurorehabilitation Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

Virtual reality (VR) is being used more and more in therapies for physical, mental, and emotional issues. It uses games and virtual settings to create these experiences. However, it's not completely clear how well VR works for rehabilitation or if it's better than traditional methods. This article presents a systematic review that looked at studies of VR in rehabilitation over the past 4 years. It looked at studies that included people recovering from stroke, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, and other conditions. Some studies also used healthy people to test VR systems. The review found that VR can improve motor skills, increase involvement in community activities, and improve mental and cognitive functions. The review suggests that VR can be a helpful part of neurorehabilitation to help people recover as much as possible.

Study Duration

4 years (2015-2018)

Participants

Studies included poststroke patients, patients with cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, and healthy populations

Evidence Level

Systematic Review

Key Findings

1
VR interventions can improve motor functions in patients with neurological disorders.
2
VR interventions can lead to greater community participation for individuals with neurological conditions.
3
VR interventions can improve psychological and cognitive function in patients.

Research Summary

This systematic review investigates the clinical utility of virtual reality (VR) in neurorehabilitation, examining its impact on patients with stroke, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, and other neurological disorders. The review identifies a range of effective VR approaches and summarizes studies conducted with various patient populations, including those with stroke, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injuries. Healthy populations have also been used in the development and testing of VR approaches. The findings suggest that VR can be a valuable tool in neurorehabilitation programs, contributing to maximizing recovery by improving motor functions, community participation, and psychological and cognitive function.

Practical Implications

Enhancing Rehabilitation Programs

VR can be integrated into existing neurorehabilitation programs to improve motor skills, community participation, and cognitive function.

Developing Adapted VR Platforms

Specific VR platforms should be developed and adapted to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities, enhancing user experience and skill development.

Promoting Accessibility

Efforts should be made to increase accessibility to VR technology by developing and maintaining low-cost products on the market.

Study Limitations

1
Design concerns should be considered regarding the practical use in future clinical testing of haptic rehabilitation systems.
2
Immersive VR can cause unwanted effects, and typical symptoms such as sickness, dizziness, headache, nausea, and vomiting are frequently reported.
3
VR for neurorehabilitation is in early development and there is further development needed before this technology can be fully integrated into the routine rehabilitation.

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