Leveraging Networked Flow Framework for Social Virtual Rehabilitation in the Metaverse Era: The TERSICORE XRM Project

Virtual rehabilitation has traditionally operated within individual-centric paradigms, limited by technological constraints of virtual reality (VR) systems. However, the emergence of shared virtual environments now enables the development of socially immersive rehabilitation experiences that can leverage collaborative dynamics to enhance therapeutic outcomes. This paper introduces the clinical rationale and implementation strategy of the TERSICORE XRM project, which applies the networked flow (NF) theoretical framework to design and implement multi-user rehabilitation protocols. Through five exergames, the platform operationalizes key NF dimensions to create therapeutic micro-communities where recovery is pursued collectively. The integration of evaluation metrics alongside clinical assessments embedded in the project protocol will enable a comprehensive investigation into how shared virtual environments can enhance rehabilitation across motor, cognitive, and socio-emotional domains, while fostering collaborative and intrinsically motivating therapeutic processes.