Table 1.

UL studies comparing VR to standard of care [14, 15••, 16, 17]

References	Sample	Hardware	Simulation	Comparison	Intervention	Pre to post	Pre to retention
Cameriao [15••]	N = 8	Input: AnTS tracking system	Task: intercept flying spheres	VR vs. intensive	Dose: all 12 weeks × 3 days × 20 min	UEFMA	UEFMA
Restorative Neurology & Neuroscience	Age 63 (12)				Plus	VR 38–60*	VR 38–60
	Days post 12 (5)				In-hospital rehab	Control 24–53*	Control 24–55
	UEFMA 38 (12)					Motricity Index§	Motricity Index
						VR 52–85*	VR 52–90
						Control 43–77*	Control 43–81
	Control	Output: screen	Feedback:	OT or non-specific gaming	Progression: algorithm scales task difficulty	CAHAI§	CAHAI*
	N = 8		KR-game score and speed			VR 30–84*	VR 30–84
	Age 59 (11)		Presentation: 2d Avatar first person			Control 25–70*	Control 25–78
	Days post 15 (5)					Barthel Index	Barthel Index
	UEFMA 24 (11)					VR 42–96*	VR 42–98
						Control 46–94*	Control 46–96
Crosbie [16]	VR	Input: HMD	Task: reaching and finger/wrist AROM	VR vs. PT delivered facilitation, stretching strengthening UE tasks	Dose:	Motricity Index NS,	Motricity Index NS,
Clinical Rehabilitation	N = 9	magnetic tracker			3 weeks	ARAT NS	ARAT NS
	Age 56 (14)				3 days
	Mos. post 10 (6)				45 min
	Mothricity 84 (8)				Therapist controlled target placement or task speed
	Control	Output: HMD	Feedback: KR: Game score
	N = 9		Presentation: Immersive 3-D Avatar
	Age 65 (7)
	Mos. post 12 (8)
	Mothricity 92 (16)
Levin [17]	VR N = 8	Input:	Task: Soccer goalie, catching flying bird, virtual shopping	VR vs. conventional OT including grasping	Dose: 3 weeks	UEFMA	UEFMA
Neurology & Therapy	Age 58 (15)	camera			3 days	VR 40–47	VR 40–46
	Mos. post 31 (14)				45 min	Control 42–45	Control 42–48
	UEFMA 40 (14)					CSI	CSI
						VR 7–6	VR 7–6
						Control 9–9	Control 9–8
	Control	Output: large 2d screen	Feedback:		Progression: not specified	RPSS	RPSS
	N = 6		Presentation:semi-immersive mirrored self-view 2d			VR 14–15	VR 14–14
	Age 60 (15)					Control 11–13	Control 11–14
	Mos. post 46 (11)					WMFT (FAS)	WMFT (FAS)
	UEFMA 42 (14)					VR 48–54	VR 48–56
						Control 50–53	Control 50–55
						BBT-NS	BBT-NS
						WMFT (s)-NS	WMFT (s)-NS
						MAL-QOM-NS	MAL-QOM-NS
						MAL-AOU-NS	MAL-AOU-NS
Subramanian [18•]	VR	Input: Caren system	Task; virtual supermarket for reaching activities	VR: reaching for 6 objects in virtual super-market	Dose: 4 weeks	RPSS (near)*	RPSS (near)*
NNR	N = 16		Feedback: KR: target acquisition, movement time.		3 days	RPSS (far)*	RPSS (far)*
	Age 58 (10)		KP: trunk excursion		45 min	WMFT (FAS)*	WMFT (FAS)*
	Mos. post 44 (26)					WMFT (s)*	WMFT (s)*
	UEFMA 42 (15)					UEFMA-NS	UEFMA-NS
	Control	Output	Presentation: semi immersive Avatar 2d	Control pointing to 6 Real targets	Progression: not specified
	N = 16	VE: rear projection with stereoscopic glasses
	Age 60 (11)
	Mos. post 36 (23)
	UEFMA 41 (15)

Mos months, UEFMA upper extremity Fugl-Meyer assessment, HMD head-mounted display, KR knowledge of results, KP knowledge of procedure, min minute, AROM active range of motion, ARAT action research arm test, CSI composite spasticity index, RPSS reaching performance scale for stroke, WMFT Wolf motor function test, MAL motor activities log, QOM quality of movement, AOU amount of use

^§Statistically significant between group comparison (p < .05),

^*Statistically significant change (p < .05)