Virtual Reality Training for Post-Stroke Upper Limb Hemiparesis

In recent years, the application of virtual reality (VR) in rehabilitation medicine has gained increasing attention. VR is generally classified into two types: non-immersive and immersive systems. Non-immersive VR allows patients to interact with virtual environments through screens while maintaining a connection with the real world. Several studies have reported that the combined application of non-immersive VR and adjunctive technologies such as transcranial direct current stimulation and hand exoskeleton devices could facilitate functional recovery of hemiparetic limbs after stroke. In contrast, immersive VR is applied with the use of head-mounted displays to encompass the user’s visual field, providing a high level of immersion and an enhanced sense of presence. This enhanced experience has been shown to promote patients’ attention and motivation, which are important factors in motor learning. Emerging evidence suggests that immersive VR is effective for improving upper limb motor function in post-stroke hemiparetic patients. Furthermore, rehabilitative training performed in immersive virtual environments may facilitate the transfer of acquired motor skills to real activities of daily living. Future research should aim to generate high-quality evidence through large-scale, multicenter randomized controlled trials to better establish the clinical efficacy and optimal implementation of VR-based interventions in stroke rehabilitation.