The effect of virtual reality-based exergaming on hand function and fine motor skills in post-stroke patients in a low-resource setting

Introduction. Stroke is a major cause of long-term morbidity, with more than 60% of stroke survivors experiencing persistent neurologic deficits in the upper extremities that significantly impact patients' independence and quality of life. Methods. This study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial involving 60 post-stroke subjects. The research was conducted from January to October 2024. Data collection included interviews, physical examination, the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremities Hand (FMA-UE Hand) to assess hand functional ability, and the Nine-Hole Peg Test (NHPT) to assess fine motor function. The experimental group received both conventional and virtual reality therapy exercises, while the control group received only conventional exercises for 8 weeks. The FMA-UE Hand served as the primary outcome, and the NHPT as the secondary outcome. Results. After 8 weeks, the intervention group showed greater improvement than the control group in both hand function and fine motor skills. When added to traditional treatment, virtual reality exergames provided even more improvement in motor function than conventional therapy alone. Benefits persisted for at least one week after the end of treatment. The results indicate that, when used alongside traditional rehabilitation, virtual reality exergames offer a more enjoyable and effective method to help stroke survivors improve their motor skills and hand function. Conclusion. This research finds that adding virtual reality (VR) exergames to traditional rehabilitation significantly improves hand functional status and fine motor ability in post-stroke patients compared to conventional therapy alone. The combined therapy offers a more effective and engaging approach to motor rehabilitation, with sustained benefits observed up to one week after treatment. These findings highlight the potential of VR exergames as a valuable addition to post-stroke rehabilitation programs.