MedUni Vienna: Virtual reality and nerve stimulation improve arm and hand function after stroke
Researchers at the MedUni Vienna and ETH Zurich have developed a rehabilitation platform combining virtual reality with targeted sensory nerve stimulation. In a feasibility study, the technology improved arm and hand function as well as tactile and body awareness in stroke patients.
Researchers at the Medical University of Vienna and ETH Zurich have developed a rehabilitation platform for people suffering from the long-term effects of a stroke, which combines virtual reality with targeted sensory nerve stimulation. In a randomised feasibility clinical study published in Nature Medicine, the new technology contributed to improvements in arm and hand function, as well as in tactile and body awareness. These results open up the prospect of personalised and more accessible rehabilitation that can support patients’ recovery beyond the limits of conventional therapy.
Stroke is one of the leading causes of long-term disability worldwide. Even after intensive early physiotherapy, many stroke survivors continue to live with reduced arm and hand function, impaired sensation and altered body awareness long after the initial event. While conventional rehabilitation can improve motor functions, it often focuses primarily on movement training, whereas sensory deficits and body awareness are frequently given insufficient attention.
Personalised training in a virtual environment
To address this need, a research team led by Stanisa Raspopovic (Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, MedUni Vienna) developed "MultiSensy", a rehabilitation platform combining immersive virtual reality with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. The system turns rehabilitation exercises into interactive virtual tasks designed to train specific arm and hand functions, including reaching, grasping, pinching and forearm rotation.
At the same time, electrodes attached to the skin stimulate the nerves in real time, allowing participants to feel virtual objects as if they were physically touching them. Inspired by occupational therapy principles, the games can be adapted to each participant’s impairment level, allowing training to be both targeted and engaging.
The system was tested on 34 patients who had suffered a stroke more than three months before the study. Some participants trained using MultiSensy in a virtual environment, while the control group received conventional physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Both groups completed a three-week rehabilitation programme consisting of twelve training sessions.
Improvements in function and body perception
The study showed greater improvements in arm and hand recovery in participants treated with MultiSensy than in those receiving conventional rehabilitation. Participants also showed improvements in tactile sensation and perception of their affected arm. Furthermore, the platform collects movement data during training, providing objective indicators of rehabilitation progress and allowing therapy to be adapted to each individual.
The researchers conclude that immersive virtual reality combined with sensory nerve stimulation could support recovery after stroke even months after the event. Larger clinical trials will now be needed to confirm the benefits of the technology and further explore its potential for personalised and home-based rehabilitation.