Transforming Stroke Rehabilitation with VR
Neurotechnology company Reneural is pushing the boundaries of stroke recovery by combining virtual reality (VR) with a connected ecosystem of devices. The aim is simple but ambitious: improve upper-limb rehabilitation outcomes while expanding access to therapy beyond hospital walls. In early 2025, Reneural secured funding through NHS England’s New Hospital Programme to develop a VR-based platform designed for both in-hospital use and home-based rehabilitation.
How the Platform Works
The Reneural platform integrates clinician dashboards for remote monitoring and personalised therapy planning. Clinicians can tailor programmes, track progress, and run group sessions, all while patients engage with immersive, game-like environments. A tablet-based inpatient interface ensures that the transition from hospital to home is smooth, allowing therapists to oversee patient activity remotely and adapt treatment on the fly.
Beyond upper-limb rehab, Reneural envisions an ecosystem that connects multiple devices—electromyography (EMG) and functional electrical stimulation (FES) loops for muscle activation, and assistive robotics such as exercise bikes for lower-limb therapy. This integrated approach aligns with growing evidence that home-based rehab can achieve outcomes comparable to, or better than, traditional inpatient programmes when paired with continuous clinician support.
Engagement Through Gamification
Reneural’s early software used realistic VR scenes—like a virtual kitchen—to help patients practice daily tasks. The current iteration adds gamification to heighten motivation and adherence. “Gamification is key,” explains co-founder Heraldas Gaspariunas. “By embedding game development techniques, we create environments—such as a relaxing beach scene with solvable puzzles—that encourage daily use and reduce the monotony of repetitive exercises.”
Automated data tracking is another benefit, enabling clinicians to monitor time spent in VR and adjust therapy as needed. This data-driven approach supports adherence to standard rehab guidelines, including three hours of therapy five days a week during the six-month “golden window.”
Clinical and Academic Collaboration
The platform’s development has involved close collaboration with The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Brunel University of London, along with ongoing usability testing at Brunel, Hillingdon Hospital, and other NHS sites. “We’ve received positive feedback from patients and clinicians,” says Victor Harabari, Reneural CEO. “Our partnerships with academia and public institutions have been crucial in shaping a tool that is both clinically meaningful and practically implementable.”
Reneural has also explored closed-loop EMG and FES prototypes, with ongoing studies at the University of Hertfordshire testing home use by stroke survivors. Early demonstrations show promise, with patients reporting comfort and engagement in a home setting that mirrors in-hospital therapy quality.
Home-Based Rehab: Extending Care, Reducing Burden
A core objective is to deliver therapy where patients are most likely to adhere—at home. The web-based extension of the platform supports clinicians in prescribing, supervising, and adjusting exercises remotely, reducing unnecessary hospital visits and addressing therapist workload pressures in the NHS. As Harabari notes, the broader goal is to provide the best possible care when it is most needed and to explore how such technologies can support other rehabilitation needs beyond stroke, including Parkinson’s disease.
Looking Ahead
The team emphasizes that early-stage adoption is the priority, with ongoing work to ensure a strong, scalable product that performs in both hospital and home environments. If successful, Reneural hopes to roll out across the UK, leveraging NHS procurement pathways and continuing partnerships with academic and clinical institutions. The program also considers the environmental and workforce benefits of shifting some therapy to the home, where patients can stay connected with therapists while conserving hospital resources.
