Effects of Intensive Virtual Reality-Based Balance and Gait Training on Activity Performance and Quality of Life in Subacute Stroke Patients

Stroke is one of the leading causes of long-term disability worldwide, and balance and gait impairments are common in the subacute phase, limiting activity performance and quality of life. Early and intensive rehabilitation during the first six months after stroke is considered critical for optimizing functional recovery. Virtual reality-based rehabilitation has emerged as a promising approach to enhance motor learning through task-specific, repetitive, and feedback-driven training. This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of intensive virtual reality-based balance and gait training on activity performance, balance confidence, and quality of life in individuals with subacute stroke. Participants will be randomly allocated to either an intervention group receiving conventional physiotherapy combined with additional virtual reality-based balance and gait training, or a control group receiving conventional physiotherapy alone during the study period. Outcome measures will include functional mobility, balance confidence, cognitive status, and stroke-specific quality of life. The findings of this study may contribute to optimizing rehabilitation intensity and timing strategies in subacute stroke rehabilitation