The Metaverse for Stroke Motor Rehabilitation*

Stroke is a critical illness that causes disabilities and fatalities. The current standard motor rehabilitation usually requires some residual movement of stroke patients, limiting participation. Movement imagination, known as motor imagery (MI), potentially expedites motor rehabilitation by activating the motor brain areas, which may facilitate neuroplasticity. MI is, however, a difficult ability that may deteriorate over time. The Metaverse, a virtual reality (VR) social media platform, provides an immersive and interactive environment that allows stroke patients to experience the embodiment of their MI performance via their avatars. This paper provides a framework to design a Metaverse stroke motor rehabilitation program, outlining the essential elements required from the Metaverse and the challenges in implementing the Metaverse in stroke motor rehabilitation. Future research directions are identified that provide solutions and facilitate stroke recovery in motor functions through more advanced and innovative digital technologies suitable for vulnerable stroke patients.