Virtual Reality-Based Intervention for Enhancing Upper Extremity Function in Children With Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy: A Literature Review

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common cause of motor disability in the pediatric population, with hemiplegia as one of the most widely seen subtypes of spastic CP. Although most of the children with hemiplegic CP are independent ambulators, deficits in hand function of the affected side remain a major concern of caregivers and children themselves. Children use the unaffected upper extremity to compensate for the weakness in the affected one, which consequently leads to the disuse of the hemiparetic upper extremity. Interactive virtual environments can enhance the activation of brain areas during training by providing feedback that can catalyze neuroplastic changes for improved function. Although numerous studies have been conducted on the impact of virtual reality (VR)-based rehabilitation in adults with stroke, studies on its use in the pediatric population are scarce. The three broad categories of VR systems based on the type of human-computer interactions are feedback-focused, gesture-based, and haptic-based. Preliminary studies have shown promising results of VR intervention in improving motor function, including upper extremity function, in children with hemiplegic CP. It is an engaging and entertaining intervention that adds an advantage of high compliance due to motivation. The current literature consists of studies with highly heterogeneous groups of participants and small sample sizes. Further investigation on children with a specific type of CP with advanced VR systems technology is warranted.