How Virtual Reality Can Help Stroke Patients with Rehabilitation

Enhancing Mirror Therapy

Mirror therapy is a commonly used rehabilitation technique after stroke. It utilizes visual illusions to re-engage the weakened limb. The patient watches movements of the healthy limb reflected in a mirror, and the brain processes it as if both limbs were moving in synchrony. The goal is to stimulate neuroplasticity and restore the function of the affected part of the brain.

The research team has now taken this approach a step further. With NeuRRoVR technology, VR elements are integrated into traditional rehabilitation protocols. The system uses VR headsets and motion sensors placed on the body, allowing patients to interactively “play” therapeutic techniques focused on motor function and balance recovery.

Precision Targeting

Therapeutic tasks are customized to the individual goals of the patient’s therapy. Some activities target a specific weakened limb, while others promote coordination between both limbs.

In one game, for example, patients control the movement of a ball on screen using precise hand motions. Correct movements are instantly rewarded with visual feedback, boosting motivation and encouraging repetition of exercises. Another application simulates walking across a narrow bridge, with the VR environment creating a spatial illusion that strengthens balance reactions and real-time movement coordination. The patient, however, remains safely on solid ground, with no risk of injury in case of failure.

The physiotherapist can adjust difficulty and visual feedback in real time to enhance activation of weakened brain centers. For example, they can modify the visuals to make the patient perceive their performance as more successful, further supporting therapy engagement.

In early clinical applications with post-stroke patients, NeuRRoVR technology led to measurable improvements in balance, fine motor skills, and overall functionality of affected limbs.

A New Approach to Rehabilitation

"We received positive feedback from both therapists and patients. Patients often identify with their virtual avatars, especially when the avatar resembles their own body. This identification strengthens the link between visual perception and motor performance, which increases therapy effectiveness," said lead researcher Chandramouli Krishnan.

The development of NeuRRoVR also carries a personal meaning for the team. The late Daniel Kortemeyer, who passed away in 2020, was part of the development. "Daniel was deeply convinced that virtual reality had the potential to fundamentally transform rehabilitation. His visionary thinking laid the foundation for the NeuRRoVR system, and his approach continues to inspire our entire team," Krishnan added.

What Is Most Beneficial?

The technology is currently being tested at the U-M Health Canton clinic, and the research team plans to expand its use to various types of physiotherapy. Another goal is to better understand how different VR activities affect brain plasticity and to determine which are most beneficial to the recovery process.

Researchers are also considering using the system beyond stroke care—for example, in patients with Parkinson’s disease or following orthopedic procedures.

"We see great potential in how VR can support and expand the use of mirror therapy and other neurorehabilitation methods. Our goal is to make this technology available to more therapy teams and patients, so it becomes a standard part of modern rehabilitative care," Krishnan concluded.

Editorial Team, Medscope.pro

Sources:
1. Norris T. A., Augenstein T. E., Rodriguez K. M. et. al. Shaping corticospinal pathways in virtual reality: effects of task complexity and sensory feedback during mirror therapy in neurologically intact individuals., J Neuroeng Rehabil 2024; 21(1): 154, doi: 10.1186/s12984-024-01454-2.

2. Using virtual reality in stroke rehabilitation, Michigan Medicine Health Lab 2025 Jan 7. Available at: www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/using-virtual-reality-stroke-rehabilitation