An outlook of early rehabilitation of stroke patients using VR technologies

Abstract

Among all the latest technologies, virtual reality (virtual reality, VR) can be a powerful and promising tool for achieving the main goals of rehabilitation. It has been experimentally proven that rehabilitation based on virtual technologies is able to recreate a realistic perception and corresponding reaction in a patient, thereby improving the quality of cognitive and motor rehabilitation with the least cost. However, the success of such rehabilitation depends mainly on the technologies and techniques used by doctors.
 This study is devoted to the important problem application of virtual reality technologies in patients with acute impairment of cerebral circulation at the stage of early rehabilitation. We focus on the neurophysiological aspects of the VR technology application and the mechanisms of the brains neuroplasticity during application of virtual reality. The characteristic features of modern approaches to application of virtual reality are highlighted. Also, a novel concept is proposed for the modern VR-technology application in intensive care unit patients. In conclusion, we discuss the possibilities of VR-technologies application, allowing for the simulation of any situation, as well as a possibility of synchronous playback of a music track with walking simulation in ICU patients in the acute period of stroke at the stage of early rehabilitation.