V-Health: Gamified upper limb neurorehabilitation
Research type
Research Study
Full title
V-Health: Feasibility of gamified immersive functional electrical stimulation system for efficient upper limb neurorehabilitation in sub-acute stroke survivors
IRAS ID
354941
Contact name
Ivan Isakov
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Valkyrie Industries
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Every year, around 100,000 people in the UK experience a stroke, and most are left with weakness in their arm. Sadly, less than 15% recover full arm use, in part because stroke survivors often receive far less rehabilitation than recommended. More intense therapy can improve recovery, but many people do not have access to this level of care.
This study aims to test a new rehabilitation technology called V-Health. It combines extended reality (XR) with functional electrical stimulation (FES) — a method that helps muscles contract using electrical impulses — to support and encourage arm movement. The XR system includes games that make therapy more fun and engaging, while the stimulation helps activate the weakened muscles. We want to find out if using V-Health is practical in real-world settings and whether stroke survivors and therapists find it acceptable and easy to use.
We will invite 40 people who have had a stroke and have arm weakness to take part. They will attend a single two-hour session at one of our research sites in London, Winchester, or Bristol. Participants will have a short assessment, use the V-Health games, and complete questionnaires about their experience.
The study is funded by the Biomedical Catalyst Award (Innovate UK) and is sponsored by Valkyrie Industries in collaboration with King’s College London and Hobbs Rehabilitation. It will help identify what factors affect how well stroke survivors respond to this type of therapy and whether the technology could be used more widely in the future.
REC name
London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/PR/1098
Date of REC Opinion
26 Aug 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion