Analysis, Design and Development of a VR-Based Serious Game to Support Mirror Therapy in Stroke Rehabilitation

Abstract

Stroke is one of the leading causes of long-term disability and may also lead to various long-term impairments. While conventional therapy is effective, it is often perceived as monotonous, this is where Virtual Reality (VR) offers a promising additional rehabilitation support specifically for mirror therapy, providing highly immersive and controllable environments that can enhance patient engagement. This research presents a VR-based prototype specifically designed to support stroke rehabilitation through mirror therapy. Semi-structured interviews with four experts in physiotherapy and occupational therapy, along with domain knowledge, yielded 20 identified requirements for such a solution. The resulting prototype consists of a virtual arm model and customizable settings to adapt to patient needs. Finally, the prototype underwent an iterative evaluation process with a therapist. This work presents the feasibility of integrating requirements into an immersive VR serious game to support rehabilitation outcomes.