Stroke
An extremely prevalent and debilitating condition, stroke affected 42.4 million people worldwide in 2015 (Mortality & Causes of Death, 2016). It is classified as an event by which blood flow to the brain becomes poor, causing the death of brain cells. There are 2 categories of stroke:
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Ischaemic: Due to lack of blood flow from a blockage such as a clot
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Hemorrhagic: Due to bleeding from a burst artery or trauma
Though death of brain cells is the common result, the type and location of the stroke in the brain determines the type of deficits experienced by a patient. Common after effects of stroke include: motor and sensory issues on one side of the body (hemiplegia/hemiparesis),problems speaking and swallowing, dizziness, and loss of vision to one side. A resource of the ways in which stroke can impact someone can be read here. Due to many of the residual deficits being related to motor control and movement, physical therapy is a mainstay in the rehabilitation for this patient group.
Rehabilitation for stroke patients focuses on regaining functionality in affected limbs and movement systems. As such, common interventions involve stretching and/or strengthening muscles, balance, gait, coordination, and the function of the upper limb. The aim of which is to assist the patient to a level of function compatible with their individual needs. However, progress for these patients is highly variable, with some deficits being present for the rest of a patients life. As such, long periods of rehabilitation are common and require interventions that are effective, motivating and allow for suitable progression.
Interventions that utilise virtual reality provide another avenue of interesting treatment that therapists may use to keep their patients motivated and engaged. This is because they often rely on games which set goals in the form of high scores and levels. They can be made to target practically any deficit and can be made as simple or complex as a patient's level of cognition or ability may allow.
Evidence exists for the following interventions which utilise VR:
References
(2016). Global, regional, and national life expectancy, all-cause mortality, and cause-specific mortality for 249 causes of death, 1980-2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. Lancet (London, England), 388(10053), 1459-1544.