The Effect of Virtual Reality Therapy on Upper Extremity Functions in Subacute Stroke Patients Receiving Rehabilitation

Stroke ranks second among the leading causes of death worldwide and third among the causes of disability. In stroke patients, motor impairment typically affects facial movements and the upper and lower extremities unilaterally. Upper extremity involvement, in particular, negatively impacts patients' activities of daily living, such as eating and dressing. Various rehabilitation methods are used to improve the function of the paretic upper extremity in stroke patients. Action Observation Therapy and Virtual Reality are among the rehabilitation approaches currently used to support upper extremity rehabilitation. In our study, patients will be randomly divided into two groups: one group will receive conventional rehabilitation and Action Observation Therapy, while the other group will additionally receive Virtual Reality therapy. This study aims to investigate the contribution of Virtual Reality therapy, when added to conventional rehabilitation and Action Observation Therapy, to the recovery of the paretic upper extremity in patients with subacute stroke.