MOTOR RECOVERY

Background: Stroke often results in significant motor impairments, affecting the quality of life and independence of survivors. Conventional physiotherapy is effective but sometimes limited by patient engagement and intensity. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising intervention that provides immersive, interactive environments to enhance motor recovery. Aim: This study evaluated the effectiveness of virtual reality therapy on motor recovery among stroke survivors in University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Methods: Forty stroke survivors undergoing rehabilitation were randomly and equally assigned to either the experimental and control groups. Interventions were conducted three times a week for eight weeks, with each session lasting 20 minutes. Motor recovery was assessed through muscular strength, muscular endurance, joint range of motion, balance, and coordination using validated and reliable instruments. Descriptive statistics of frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation were used to summarize the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants while inferential statistics of one-way ANOVA was used to test the hypotheses. Results: Participants in the VR group showed statistically significant improvements in all motor recovery parameters (muscle strength, muscle endurance, range of motion, balance and coordination) compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Notably, upper and lower limb strength, endurance, range of motion, and balance improved more in the VR group. Conclusion: Virtual reality therapy is an effective treatment modality in stroke rehabilitation to enhance motor recovery after stroke. Thus, VR should be regarded as a cornerstone in the management of stroke survivors. Keywords: Stroke, Virtual Reality, Motor Recovery, Hemiparesis