Immersive Technology in Stroke Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review of Effectiveness, Challenges and Future Direction

Stroke rehabilitation has traditionally relied on physical and occupational therapies to improve motor and cognitive functions.Recently, immersive technologies, including Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR), have emerged as innovative tools for enhancing recovery.These technologies offer engaging, tailored rehabilitation experiences, potentially improving stroke outcomes.This scoping review synthesizes recent studies on immersive technologies in stroke rehabilitation, focusing on clinical trials, pilot studies, and systematic reviews published in the past decade.Findings indicate that VR, AR, and MR interventions show promise in improving motor function, gait rehabilitation, and cognitive recovery.VR-based interventions, including treadmill training and mirror therapy, have demonstrated benefits such as increased walking speed and enhanced upper limb motor function.However, challenges remain, including participant selection bias, small sample sizes, and a lack of long-term follow-up.Additionally, issues such as physical discomfort, safety concerns, and the need for personalized therapy were noted.The diversity of stroke severity and patient heterogeneity further complicate generalizability.Immersive technologies hold significant potential in stroke rehabilitation by providing engaging and effective therapies.However, challenges such as safety, accessibility, and scalability must be addressed.Future research should focus on larger, multicenter trials with diverse patient populations, long-term follow-ups, and integrating advanced technologies like AI and motion tracking to optimize immersive interventions for stroke recovery.