Clinically Meaningful Upper Limb Motor Recovery with Non-Immersive Virtual Reality (MindMotion GO) in Chronic Left MCA Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BackgroundFunctional recovery after chronic stroke remains limited, requiring intensive and engaging rehabilitation approaches. Non-immersive virtual reality (NIVR) provides task-oriented, feedback-driven training that may enhance motor recovery in this population. ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a NIVR-based intervention (MindMotion GO) on upper limb motor function in patients with chronic left middle cerebral artery ischaemic stroke (LMCA stroke). MethodsA single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted in 26 patients with chronic middle cerebral artery stroke. Five participants were lost to follow-up, resulting in a final sample of 21 patients allocated to the non-immersive virtual reality group (NIVR, n = 9) and conventional occupational therapy group (n = 12). Both groups completed an 8-week intervention consisting of two 30-40-minute sessions per week. The primary outcome was upper limb motor function assessed using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE). Secondary outcomes included health-related quality of life (SF-12v2), emotional status (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and caregiver burden (Zarit Burden Interview). Statistical analyses were performed using the intention-to-treat principle with non-parametric tests. ResultsThe NIVR group showed a clinically meaningful improvement in FMA-UE (median {Delta}21), exceeding the minimal clinically important difference (MCID = 7.35), whereas the control group showed smaller gains ({Delta}2.50) that did not reach clinical relevance. Both groups improved significantly over time; however, between-group differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). No significant changes were observed in quality of life, mood, or caregiver burden. ConclusionsNIVR using MindMotion GO is a safe and feasible intervention that can induce clinically meaningful improvements in upper limb motor function in chronic stroke patients. These findings support the incorporation of accessible, task-oriented virtual rehabilitation strategies in long-term stroke care.