Background and Objectives: The consequences of stroke have a significant impact on self-sufficiency and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Virtual reality (VR)-based rehabilitation has the potential to impact these modalities, but information on timing, volume, and intensity is not yet available. The aim of this randomized controlled trial (1:1) was to evaluate the impact of conventional rehabilitation combined with VR on self-care and domains of HRQoL in patients ≤6 months post-stroke. Materials and Methods: The intervention group completed a total of 270 min of conventional VR + rehabilitation sessions. The control group underwent conventional rehabilitation only. Primary assessments with the WHO disability assessment schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2) questionnaire were conducted before rehabilitation (T0), after completion of the intervention (T1), and at the 4-week follow-up (T2); secondary outcomes included self-sufficiency and balance assessments. Results: Fifty patients completed the study (mean age 61.2 ± 9.0 years, time since stroke 114.3 ± 39.4 days). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in WHODAS 2, self-sufficiency, and balance scores (p > 0.05). Conclusions: In the experimental group, there was a statistically significant difference in WHODAS 2, assessment of self-sufficiency, and balance scores before and after therapy (p < 0.05). VR appears to be a suitable tool to supplement and modify rehabilitation in patients after stroke.

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of immersive virtual reality used as a short-term multifaceted activity with a focus on motor and cognitive function in patients with Parkinson’s Disease. The sub-objective focused on quality of life in the study group of patients. Materials and Methods: Nineteen patients (64.2 ± 12.8 years) were included in this study. Inclusion criteria for this study: adult patients in Hoehn and Yahr’s stage 1–3, cooperative, with stable health status, independent and mobile. IVR therapy was performed twice a week for 20 min for one month. Input and output measurements were taken within 14 days of starting or ending therapy. The 10 Meter Walk test was used to examine and assess both comfortable and fast walking, and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) + s dual task was applied to quickly assess the highest possible level of functional mobility. The Berg Balance Scale test (BBS) was used to assess balance with a 14-item balance scale containing specific movement tasks. The standardized Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) was used to assess quality of life. Data were processed in the PAST program using a nonparametric paired Wilcoxon test. The significance level was set at α = 0.05. The value of the r score was used to evaluate the effect size. Results: A significant reduction in the time in the fast walk 10MWT (p = 0.006; r = 0.63) and TUG (p < 0.001; r = 0.80) parameter were found after therapy. Significant improvement in the BBS score was found after applied therapy (p = 0.016; r = 0.55). In the PDQ-39 questionnaire, significant improvements were found in the study group after therapy in the domains of mobility (p = 0.027; r = 0.51) and emotional well-being (p = 0.011; r = 0.58). Conclusions: The results of this study indicate a positive effect of virtual reality therapy on balance and gait, which is also good in terms of reducing the risk of falls in the study group. Therapy also promoted quality of life in the study group.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether adding virtual reality therapy to conventional rehabilitation improves the quality of life, cognitive functions, and social participation of patients after an ischemic stroke.Design: Randomized controlled study conducted in a rehabilitation center.Participants: The experimental group with therapy in virtual reality included 25 patients (age 59.4 ± 8.9 years), and the control group with conventional therapy consisted of 25 patients (age 63.0 ± 8.8 years). Inclusion criteria for the study were: age 40–79 years, stable condition, Mini-Mental State Examination >25 points, intact vision, preserved grip function of the thumb and index finger of the affected limb, functional mobility according to the functional ambulatory category (FAC) 3–5, and no other neurological disease.Methods: The Mini Mental State Examination, the Barthel Index, the Extended Barthel Index, and the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 were used to assess cognitive function, quality of life, and self-sufficiency. Based on the results of normality test were used: t-test for two samples (age, time since stroke), the chi-square test (gender), nonparametric paired Wilcoxon test and Mann–Whitney U test. Friedman analysis was used to analyze repeated measures and a post hoc test Scheffe test was used to compare differences. Statistical tests were evaluated at the 5% significance level.Results: No significant differences were found between the experimental and control groups in any of the tests applied after treatment. Significant differences emerged after treatment in all WHODAS domains studied for each group compared to the measurement before therapy. In the experimental group, the positive effects of therapy persisted 1 year after the end of therapy compared to the measurement before therapy.Conclusions: Virtual reality has proven to be a suitable adjunct to conventional therapy for post stroke patients and offers an advantage over traditional rehabilitation methods in that it allows training in activities of daily living that are not commonly available in a hospital setting.

Background and Objectives: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of immersive virtual reality (IVR) as computer-assisted cognitive-motor dual task training on stability and gait in patients with Parkinson's disease. The sub-objective focused on quality of life in the study group of patients. Materials and Methods: Nineteen patients (64.2 ± 12.8 years) were included in the study. Inclusion criteria for the study: adult patients in Hoehn and Yahr's stage 1-3, cooperative, with stable health status, independent and mobile. IVR therapy was performed twice a week for 20 minutes for one month. Input and output measurements were taken within 14 days of starting or ending therapy. The Berg Balance Scale test (BBS) was used to assess balance with a 14-item balance scale containing specific movement tasks. In addition, the 10 Meter Walk test was used to examine and assess both comfortable and fast walking, and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) + s dual task was applied to quickly assess the highest possible level of functional mobility. The standardized Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) was used to assess quality of life. Data were processed in the PAST program using a parametric paired t-test. Results: A statistically significant improvement in the BBS score was found after applied therapy (p = 0.033) and a statistically significant reduction in the TUG parameter was found after therapy (p = 0.021). In the PDQ-39 questionnaire, a statistically significant improvement was found in the study group after therapy not only in the total score characterizing quality of life, but also in the domains of mobility, ADL, and emotional well-being. Conclusions: The results of the study indicate a positive effect of virtual reality therapy on balance and gait, which is also good in terms of reducing the risk of falls in the study group. Therapy also promoted quality of life in the study group.