Enhancing Post-Stroke Upper Limb Rehabilitation Through Haptic Feedback in Virtual Reality-Based Gaming

Abstract

This preliminary study explores developing and implementing upper-limb rehabilitation tools utilizing haptic feedback and 3D spatial recognition analysis in a virtual reality (VR) environment. The effectiveness of upper limb rehabilitation in post-stroke patients was investigated by analyzing the joint and gimbal range of motion (ROM), ROM ratios, and force distribution through various drawing tasks. This study evaluated the impact of different drawing patterns on joint and gimbal ROM, and the force applied during rehabilitation exercises. This study revealed significant variability in ROM across different tasks by combining ROM measurements with force data and employing heat maps for visual representation. These findings emphasize the need for task-specific adjustments to improve rehabilitation outcomes. This study highlights the potential of incorporating advanced technologies, such as VR-based tools with haptic feedback and 3D spatial recognition, to enhance patient engagement and rehabilitation effectiveness.