Powerful VR stroke rehabilitation therapy developments - key issues

Rehabilitation therapy development is a long-term, multi-step, multi-professional activity. Starting point for any development is the patients' perspective. Information about clinical epidemiology, the current status of therapeutic clinical evidence, the neuroscience background, and the technical options are all relevant for the development. When these aspects have been reflected, the stage is set for designing a new, potentially more effective training strategy. After prototype testing has been finalized clinical evidence is sought to determine the therapy's efficacy and effectiveness in representative clinical populations, preferably by large well-designed RCTs contrasting two active treatments. When clinical evidence supports the new therapy, systematic dissemination strategies are warranted.