Development of a Virtual Reality Mirror Therapy System Combining Rhythm Music and Vibration Stimulation for Upper Limb Rehabilitation in Stroke Hemiplegia Patients

This study aims to develop a virtual reality mirror therapy system that integrates rhythmic music and vibration stimuli, and to investigate its effects on hand function and brain activation in young, healthy subjects. The system comprises the Meta Quest 2 and VRMT-RT software, which is inspired by the rhythm game “Taiko no Tatsujin.” Users are required to hit a drum in sync with the music rhythm while their hand movements are mirrored, incorporating the concept of mirror therapy. Thirty young participants were recruited for the study, and their hand function and brain activation were assessed using hand function scales and EEG under three different modes of music and vibration stimuli. The results indicate that under the influence of music and vibration stimuli, participants demonstrated significant improvements in hand function and increased activation of the motor cortex. These findings suggest that this system can positively enhance hand function and augment brain activation.