DIGITAL REHABILITATION OF STROKE PATIENTS USING VIRTUAL REALITY

This article explores the modern approach to post-stroke rehabilitation using virtual reality (VR) technologies. Stroke is not merely a diagnosis but a turning point in a person’s life, requiring comprehensive restoration of motor, cognitive, and speech functions. Traditional rehabilitation methods such as physiotherapy and therapeutic exercises remain fundamental, but they are often insufficient due to monotony, low motivation, and limited resources.

VR rehabilitation offers an innovative supplement by immersing the patient in an interactive environment, activating mirror neurons and the motor cortex, providing instant feedback, and integrating gamification with adaptive scenarios. These technologies are now being implemented both in early recovery stages and home-based settings, expanding accessibility and motivation. Research shows that VR therapy improves upper limb function, balance, cognitive performance, and quality of life compared with or in addition to conventional therapy.

The paper reviews the underlying mechanisms of neuroplasticity, motor imagery, and feedback, examples of existing systems (commercial and domestic), and discusses prospects and limitations such as accessibility, severe cases, and the need for a multidisciplinary approach. In conclusion, stroke is not a sentence but the start of a new rehabilitation trajectory — and VR technologies open real opportunities for patients to return to an active life.