Clinical potential and neuroplastic effect of targeted virtual reality based intervention for distal upper limb in post-stroke rehabilitation: a pilot observational study

Virtual reality modulating dynamics of neuroplasticity: Innovations in neuro-motor rehabilitation

Virtual reality (VR) technology has emerged as a ground-breaking tool in neuroscience, revolutionizing our understanding of neuroplasticity and its implications for neurological rehabilitation. By immersing individuals in simulated environments, VR induces profound neurobiological transformations, affecting neuronal connectivity, sensory feedback mechanisms, motor learning processes, and cognitive functions. These changes highlight the dynamic interplay between molecular events, synaptic adaptations, and neural reorganization, emphasizing the potential of VR as a therapeutic intervention in various neurological disorders. This comprehensive review delves into the therapeutic applications of VR, focusing on its role in addressing multiple conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injuries, phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder. It highlights how VR can enhance motor recovery, cognitive rehabilitation, and emotional resilience, showcasing its potential as an innovative and effective tool in neurological rehabilitation. Integrating molecular neuroscience with VR technology allows for a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying neuroplasticity, opening doors to personalized interventions and precise treatment strategies for individuals with neurological impairments. Moreover, the review emphasizes the ethical considerations and challenges that come with implementing VR-based interventions in clinical practice, stressing the importance of data privacy, informed consent, and collaborative interdisciplinary efforts. By leveraging advanced molecular imaging techniques, VR-based research methodologies, and computational modelling, the review envisions a future where VR technology plays a central role in revolutionizing neuroscience research and clinical neurorehabilitation, ultimately providing tailored and impactful solutions for individuals facing neurological challenges.

Post-stroke rehabilitation in the peri-pandemic COVID-19 era

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which arose in late 2019, caused extensive destruction, impacting a substantial proportion of the worldwide population and leading to millions of deaths. Although COVID-19 is mainly linked to respiratory and pulmonary complications, it has the potential to affect neurologic structures as well. Neurological involvement may manifest as minimal and reversible; however, a notable proportion of cases have exhibited pronounced neurological consequences, such as strokes. Endothelial inflammation, hypercoagulation, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system alterations, and cardiogenic embolism are the pathophysiological mechanisms of stroke under COVID-19 circumstances. Physical activity and exercise have improved several aspects of post-stroke recovery, including cardiovascular health, walking capacity, and upper limb strength. They are commonly used to assist stroke survivors in overcoming their motor restrictions. Furthermore, stroke rehabilitation can incorporate a range of specific techniques, including body-weight-supported treadmill applications, constraint-induced movement therapy, robotic rehabilitation interventions, transcranial direct current stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and prism adaptation training. Under pandemic conditions, there were several barriers to neurological rehabilitation. The most significant of these were individual's fear of infection, which caused them to postpone their rehabilitation applications and rehabilitation areas being converted into COVID-19 units. The primary emphasis had turned to COVID-19 treatment. Several valuable data and views were gained in reorganizing rehabilitation during the pandemic, contributing to establishing future views in this regard.