XR-Technology : from Commercial Release to Research Topic in Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation

Acquired brain injury (ABI) is a leading cause of disability in adults worldwide, resulting in physical and cognitive challenges. Rehabilitation is often prescribed depending on the symptoms and severity of the injury. Technologies like robotics, wearables, and extended reality (XR) have been explored to aid in rehabilitation. Both patients and therapists recognize the potential of XR, raising the question of how it can be effectively used for ABI rehabilitation. To address this, a scoping review was conducted, focusing on the adoption of XR technology in ABI rehabilitation research. The review followed a structured process of searching databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane, Embase, IEEE Xplore) for articles published after 2009. Out of 6243 initial articles, 4180 were screened, leaving 75 relevant studies. Most research focused on virtual reality (70 studies), with fewer on augmented reality (5), and none on mixed reality. The most used devices were the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, with XR technologies typically appearing in research around three years after their commercial release. The findings suggest that new XR technologies are adopted quickly in ABI rehabilitation research, often within a year. A surge in publications since 2016 indicates growing experience in developing XR applications. Movement tracking is key in ABI rehabilitation, and while controllers are commonly used, contactless interaction is becoming increasingly important. AR technologies are less common but may benefit from lessons learned in VR, potentially speeding up their adoption in future ABI research.