Realidade virtual imersiva na reabilitação do acidente vascular encefálico: revisão sistemática de relatos de casos

Abstract

Stroke is the leading cause of disability in adulthood. It is considered the second leading cause of mortality globally and the third when mortality and morbidity are combined. Each year, approximately 15 million people worldwide are affected. The aim is to identify the potential benefits of applying immersive virtual reality as a therapeutic strategy in the motor rehabilitation of stroke patients. This study consists of a systematic review of case studies, published between april and august 2023. PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar databases were used. Search strategies involved terms and synonyms combined with boolean operators AND and OR. The search strategy identified 119 studies, and after screening, 8 eligible articles were included. Technologies ranged from headsets to cybergloves. The majority of cases were male (80%), with an average age of 56.2 years. Most treated patients with ischemic stroke, focusing on upper limbs. Some used physiotherapy and occupational therapy in conjunction with VR. Some cases faced temporary interruptions due to side effects, but the goals of improving motor function were achieved. Among the limitations are the high cost of implementing treatment and the lack of qualified professionals in the market. The study contributes to understanding the promising role of immersive virtual reality in improving post-stroke quality of life, encouraging future research and enhancements.