Physical rehabilitation and its advances with virtual reality: a systematic review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v60.109195Keywords:
Virtual reality, Physical rehabilitation, Motor function, Therapeutic efficacy, Technological innovationAbstract
Physical rehabilitation (PR) is crucial to treat and recover patients with motor disabilities caused by conditions such as stroke and musculoskeletal injuries. Conventional PR techniques have limitations in accessibility, patient motivation, and treatment customization. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising tool that can transform PR by creating immersive and personalized environments, increasing patient motivation, and providing accurate data on their progress.
This study was conducted as a systematic review of recent literature (2015-2023) to assess the efficacy of VR in PR. PRISMA guidelines were followed, covering randomized controlled studies and clinical trials in Scopus and PubMed. Analyses included the Jadad Scale to assess methodological quality, the Cochrane tool for risk of bias, and GRADE for quality of evidence. The JAMA guideline was applied to observational studies to assess internal and external validity.
The results showed that VR significantly improves motor function, flexibility, coordination, mobility and quality of life compared to conventional rehabilitation. Most studies obtained high scores on the Jadad Scale and moderate to high quality according to GRADE, indicating strength of evidence. However, limitations such as heterogeneity of the studies and lack of blinding were identified. It is concluded that VR has the potential to revolutionize RF, improving therapeutic outcomes and quality of life of patients.
Keywords: Virtual reality, Physical rehabilitation, Motor function, Therapeutic efficacy, Technological innovation
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