The Feasibility, Usability, and Acceptability of Using the Oculus™ Virtual Reality Gaming Technology in Stroke Survivors for Upper Extremity and Cognitive Rehabilitation

The Feasibility, Usability, and Acceptability of Using the Oculus™ Virtual Reality Gaming Technology in Stroke Survivors for Upper Extremity and Cognitive Rehabilitation

The purpose of this study is to test the (a) feasibility, (b) usability, and (c) acceptability of using the Oculus Virtual Reality (VR) for chronic stroke survivors who have mild-moderate cognitive and unilateral arm impairment to administer upper extremity and cognitive rehabilitation, to calculate the change in upper extremity and cognition scores on standardized measurements per standard of care and to qualitatively explore the impact of engaging caregivers in supporting the stroke survivor's rehabilitation and the impact of this engagement on the stroke survivor and caregiver dyad using semi-structured interviews.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke diagnosis within 6 months to 2 years of enrollment
• can read, write, comprehend, speak English
• willing and able to provide informed consent
• Caregivers must live in the home with the stroke survivor

Exclusion Criteria:

• do not have score ranges that indicate mild to moderate severity on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA )(15-25) or other appropriate cognitive screening test selected by the speech language pathologist
• has aphasia, hemiopsia, and other neurological deficits that prevents the participant from being examined using MoCA or a modified MoCA, Fugl-Meyer Assessment - Upper Extremity (FM) (20-50)
• unstable while standing unassisted
• have a history of motion sickness/ vertigo/ dizziness/seizures, claustrophobia, blind/deaf, and cannot hold the controller in their affected arm.