Design of a customized virtual reality simulation for retraining upper extremities after stroke

Abstract

Recent discoveries demonstrate that the brain can be remodeled after stroke, principally through new synaptic generation. Task-specific & repetitive training are critical factors in promoting this synaptic generation & are central components in rehabilitation of upper extremity (UE) motor weakness following stroke. Virtual reality (VR) based therapy have been shown to be effective at facilitating specific & consistently repetitive movements during training. In combination with robotics the nature of the training can be further tailored to fit the patient's rehabilitative needs. This paper describes the design & consideration of The Blood Cell Game, a new VR game used in UE stroke rehabilitation in the New Jersey Institute of Technology robot assisted virtual reality training system (RAVR).