Effect of Virtual Reality Interventions on Occupational Participation in Stroke Patients: A Rapid Systematic Review

Abstract

This rapid systematic review of the literature examines the literature on effective occupational therapy virtual reality (VR) interventions in rehabilitation of individuals poststroke. This review provides a comprehensive overview and analysis of 25 studies that addressed common themes, including: upper extremity (UE) mobility, functional outcomes, Quality of Life (QoL), and functional performance, related to increasing occupational participation through VR. Findings reveal moderate strength of evidence for the use of VR interventions, in addition to conventional occupational therapy (OT), in supporting individuals’ occupational performance and relative, functional factors contributing to participation in occupations, among individuals following a stroke. This review supports the use of VR interventions for individuals poststroke due to their innovativeness, adaptability, and ability to simulate real-life activities of daily living (ADLs), and supports the use of occupation-based VR interventions which can inform and guide intervention approaches for OT practitioners working in stroke rehabilitation.