Combined robot-assisted therapy virtual reality for upper limb rehabilitation in stroke survivors: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Upper limb impairments are among the most common consequences following a stroke. Recently, robot-assisted therapy (RT) and virtual reality (VR) have been used to improve upper limb function in stroke survivors.

This review aims to investigate the effects of combined RT and VR on upper limb function in stroke survivors and to provide recommendations for researchers and clinicians in the medical field.

We searched PubMed, SCOPUS, REHABDATA, PEDro, EMBASE, and Web of Science from inception to March 28, 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving stroke survivors that compared combined RT and VR interventions with either passive (i.e., sham, rest) or active (i.e., traditional therapy, VR, RT) interventions and assessed outcomes related to upper limb function (e.g., strength, muscle tone, or overall function) were included. The Cochrane Collaboration tool was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the included studies.

Six studies were included in this review. In total, 201 patients with stroke (mean age 57.84 years) were involved in this review. Four studies were considered ‘high quality’, while two were considered as ‘moderate quality’ on the Cochrane Collaboration tool. The findings showed inconsistent results for the effects of combined RT and VR interventions on upper limb function poststroke.

In conclusion, there are potential effects of combined RT and VR interventions on improving upper limb function, but further research is needed to confirm these findings, understand the underlying mechanisms, and assess the consistency and generalizability of the results.