Patient Satisfaction and Tolerance of Virtual Reality Rehabilitation in Subacute Ischemic Stroke

Rehabilitation in the early (subacute) phase following a cerebrovascular accident (CVA / stroke) is absolutely crucial for restoring motor skills and promoting brain neuroplasticity. The objective of this pilot study, conducted at the Department of Neurology at Ostrava University Hospital, was to evaluate how patients in the early stage post-stroke perceive exercises with the certified medical device VR Vitalis® Pro, how well they tolerate the technology, and how its benefits are rated by physical therapists themselves.

Study Design and Methodology

The study included 19 patients (average age 67.7 years) in the subacute phase following an ischemic stroke (therapy was initiated on average 6 days post-stroke). Alongside conventional rehabilitation, patients underwent virtual reality exercises targeting upper and lower limbs as well as cognitive-motor tasks. Satisfaction was measured using the internationally recognized User Satisfaction Evaluation Questionnaire (USEQ).

Key Research Findings

High Patient Satisfaction: The average satisfaction score reached 25 out of 30 points. High satisfaction (25 points or more) was expressed by 68.4% of patients, while only 5.3% reported low satisfaction.

Excellent Tolerance Without Motion Sickness: Up to 63.2% of patients experienced no discomfort or motion sickness (cybersickness) at all. The low incidence of discomfort demonstrates that neither age nor the early phase post-stroke poses an obstacle to using VR.

Clarity and Perceived Value: Patients rated the clarity of system information highest (78.9% awarded the top mark 5/5), along with the perceived benefit to their own rehabilitation (68.4% gave a 5/5 rating).

Physical Therapists' Assessment: Physical therapists evaluated that 31.6% of patients achieved better results with VR than would be expected from conventional therapy alone. In another 52.6% of patients, results were comparable to standard care.

High Safety Profile: No serious adverse effects were recorded during exercise, and patients' vital signs remained within normal ranges.

Conclusion for Practice

The study confirmed that incorporating the certified VR Vitalis® Pro system into early post-stroke neurorehabilitation is safe, exceptionally well-tolerated by patients, and highly motivating. Rather than placing a burden on older patients, the technology enhances their active engagement in the exercise process.

Study Authors: Š. Baníková, A. Najsrová, I. Szegedi, K. Vítová, I. Fiedorová, J. Trdá, O. Volný (Department of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine at Ostrava University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ostrava, and VR LIFE s.r.o.)

Published in: Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences (2025)

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