The Role of Collaborative Virtual Reality Engagement in Stroke Survivors' Rehabilitation

Abstract: Stroke stands out as a significant contributor to disability and mortality rates among individuals worldwide. Despite their important role, conventional rehabilitation methods often struggle to maintain motivation due to their repetitive nature, leading to potential social and mental health repercussions. This work advocates for the integration of Virtual Reality (VR) serious games in a collaborative, multi-user setting, informed by a Human-Centered Design (HCD) methodology with stroke survivors and healthcare professionals from a rehabilitation center. Through immersive, task-specific exercises in dynamic virtual environments, we strongly believe that stroke survivors can engage in shared experiences, fostering motivation and social interaction. We report our initial efforts toward the creation of a collaborative VR framework and delve into the next steps of the proposed research line. With this, we hope to transform existing approaches and better complement traditional rehabilitation methods for improving the overall quality of life for stroke survivors.

Keywords: Rehabilitation, Stroke, Virtual Reality, Collaborative Environments, Serious Games

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1004611

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