The Use of Virtual Reality in Neurological Rehabilitation After Stroke: A Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2026.78.76483Keywords
Virtual Reality, stroke rehabilitation, post-stroke rehabilitation, cognitive rehabilitation, post-stroke cognitive rehabilitationAbstract
Background: Stroke frequently causes motor, balance, cognitive, and psychological impairments that require individualized and multidisciplinary rehabilitation. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a complementary technology capable of providing interactive, task-oriented training with immediate feedback.
Objective: This review examines the applications, potential benefits, and limitations of VR in post-stroke rehabilitation, with particular attention to motor and cognitive outcomes.
Methods: Publications were identified through searches of PubMed and Google Scholar, with supplementary case material retrieved from ResearchGate. Recent systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized clinical trials, and selected clinical studies were narratively synthesized.
Results: The reviewed literature included immersive, semi-immersive, and non-immersive VR systems, customized rehabilitation platforms, commercial gaming devices, and home-based interventions. Reported benefits included improvements in upper-limb function, balance, gait, coordination, activities of daily living, cognitive performance, motivation, and quality of life. Repetitive task practice, adjustable difficulty, multisensory feedback, and engaging virtual environments may support motor learning and neuroplasticity. BCI-based interventions using motor imagery, motor attempts, EEG, EMG, or fNIRS may complement VR-based rehabilitation but should be considered distinct technologies. However, the evidence remains heterogeneous because of differences in intervention protocols, patient characteristics, outcome measures, and follow-up periods.
Conclusions:VR appears to be a promising adjunct to conventional post-stroke rehabilitation. Its use should be individualized, supervised, and integrated into multidisciplinary care. Larger randomized controlled trials with standardized protocols, longer follow-up, and evaluation of safety, cost-effectiveness, adherence, and home-based applications are needed.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Zuzanna Rupeć, Julia Rachwał, Patrycja Anna Rak, Kornelia Rąpała, Michalina Rubaj, Martyna Rumierz, Anna Rydzik, Weronika Szular, Tomasz Wach, Natalia Wyskiel, Karol Wiśniewski
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