Authors: (including presenting author): :
Liu YT(1), Chung HL (2), Tam SW (1), Leung KW (1), Mok YC (1)
Affiliation: :
(1)Department of Physiotherapy, Tin Shui Wai Hospital (2)Department of Physiotherapy, Pok Oi Hospital
Keyword 1: :
Virtual Reality
Keyword 3: :
Stroke rehabilitation
Keyword 4: :
Neurorehabilitation
Introduction: :
Stroke is a leading cause of upper limb (UL) disability, with rehabilitation essential for motor recovery. Recent evidence suggests that immersive virtual reality (IVR) enhances UL motor function, dexterity, and activities of daily living post-stroke. It is considered a potentially cost-efficient, mobile and space-saving adjunct to conventional therapy. However, its application in local inpatient settings remains limited due to unknown local user acceptance for this emerging technology.
Objectives: :
1.To evaluate the tolerance of IVR among local inpatient stroke patients. 2.To determine the effect of IVR training for UL stroke rehabilitation in local inpatient settings.
Methodology: :
Patients admitted to Tin Shui Wai Hospital with recent stroke onset < 3 months, impaired UL function, and prior smartphone experience were recruited from November 2024 to September 2025. Participants received conventional therapy plus approximately 20 minutes of IVR-based arm training. The system utilized head-mounted goggles with cameras to detect UL movement and provide visual feedback through interactive games. Training was customised to individual needs and conducted daily on weekdays until discharge. Outcome measures included cybersickness (CS) occurrence, user experience questionnaire (UEQ), hand grip (HG) strength, Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) and Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test (MMDT).
Result & Outcome: :
Of 14 recruited patients, 9 patients completed the study with post-assessment. 5 patients dropped out due to early discharge, condition change or infection control. No CS occurrences were reported during or after IVR training. The mean UEQ score on the first day of training was 15.43 ± 3.23 out of 20 (77.14 %), indicating a generally positive response to initial IVR exposure. For the 9 patients (mean age 69.44 ± 8.38 years; 55.6% male; median length of stay 8.00 days [IQR=6.00-33.00]; median sessions attended 5.00 [IQR= 4.00-8.00]) who completed the study, significant improvements were observed post-training: HG strength increased by 3.88 kg (95% CI: 0.18-7.57, p=0.042); FMA-UE total score improved by 8.89 points (95% CI: 1.81-15.97, p=0.020); and MMDT completion time was reduced by 134.22 seconds (95% CI: 11.06-257.39, p=0.036). In conclusion, IVR training is well-tolerated without CS and positively received among selected local stroke inpatients. It demonstrates significant benefits as an adjunct to rehabilitation for improving upper limb function. These findings support its feasibility and preliminary efficacy, suggesting broader clinical application.
