Technical feasibility of the implementation of an intensive upper-limb rehabilitation system (NeuroVirt) intervention for stroke survivors

Mares, Kathryn, Hidalgo Mas, Maria Del Rocio, Watt, Alison, Gregoriou, Evridiki and Clark, Allan (2025) Technical feasibility of the implementation of an intensive upper-limb rehabilitation system (NeuroVirt) intervention for stroke survivors. BMC Digital Health, 33.

[thumbnail of Mares_etal_2025__BMCDigitalHealth]
Preview
PDF (Mares_etal_2025__BMCDigitalHealth) - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

Background: 80% of stroke survivors have upper limb (UL) disability. NeuroVirt is a portable immersive virtual reality (VR) platform that is designed to encourage high-repetition and high-quality UL movement training. The aim of the study is to investigate the technical feasibility, usability and acceptability of NeuroVirt. Methods: Eight adults with a stroke (≥ 3months) completed the study. Participants used the device at home for two 1 h sessions each day, 6 days a week, for 6 weeks. Participants also received a 15-min weekly telephone call. Technical feasibility was measured by the percentage of Wi-Fi disconnections, data push failures, and mean scene frames per second (fps). Usability and acceptability were explored through interview feedback and analysed with a thematic inductive analysis approach. We also recorded the number of movement repetitions per session as an indication of compliance. Results: From 12 participants enrolled in the study, 8 (67%) participants started the NeuroVirt exercise program and were included in the study analysis. Results indicated good Wi-Fi stability with 1(1.51%) disconnection out of 198 sessions, 1 (0.09%) push attempt failed out of 1052 data pushes and no data loss. An overall mean of 67.5 (2.27) fps during a session. Data from the interviews suggested that participants found NeuroVirt acceptable and indicated improvements in function. Participants completed on average 3.5 (1.3) sessions per week and performed on average 338.2 (172.7) movement repetitions per session. Conclusion: NeuroVirt had no data loss and consistent Wi-Fi stability. The frame rate was above the minimum industry standards of 60-fps required to prevent motion sickness. Preliminary usability and acceptability results showed that a home-based NeuroVirt program for stroke survivors with UL impairments was both, feasible and well accepted. Trial registration: Registration number ISRCTN46051085; prospectively registered the 24/02/2023.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Data availability statement: The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available. Data is provided within the manuscript or supplementary information files. Data requests of anonymised datasets can be made to the CI to access the data for scholarly or research purposes only. The CI will work with UEA Research and Innovation services to assess the appropriateness of each request on an individual basis. To request access to data please contact Dr Kathryn Mares. Funding information: NIHR i4i Connect: NIHR204467.
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Health Sciences
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Norwich Institute for Healthy Aging
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Lifespan Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Rehabilitation
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Statistics
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Norwich Clinical Trials Unit
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Services and Primary Care
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Epidemiology and Public Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Population Health
Related URLs:
Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 18 Jul 2025 15:33
Last Modified: 18 Jul 2025 15:33
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/99957
DOI: 10.1186/s44247-025-00169-1

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item