Advancements in Hand Function Rehabilitation for Stroke Patients: A Scoping Review of Immersive Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality Technologies and an Application Study

Abstract

Recent advancements in immersive virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) technologies have demonstrated promising results in the rehabilitation of hand function in stroke patients. These technologies provide immer-sive, interactive, and engaging environments that significantly improve traditional rehabilitation methods. This chapter offers an overview of the application of emerging technologies used to enhance conventional and servo-assisted systems in the rehabilitation and recovery of hand functions after a stroke. A scoping review was performed, focusing on immersive applications that combine intervention methods, assessment, evaluation, and engagement analysis based on studies published over the past decade. Our revision explores the various applications and benefits of VR, AR, and MR in creating personalized and adaptive rehabilitation programs. In addition, the chapter describes the integration of mixed reality with a robotic hand exoskeleton for therapy, highlighting innovative approaches to improve patient outcomes and offering insights into future research and development directions in this field.