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Review
. 2022 May;43(5):2995-3006.
doi: 10.1007/s10072-021-05855-2. Epub 2022 Feb 17.

Effect of home-based virtual reality training and telerehabilitation on balance in individuals with Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis, and stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Steven Truijen  1 , Auwal Abdullahi  2   3 , Danique Bijsterbosch  1 , Eline van Zoest  1 , Maaike Conijn  1 , Yonglan Wang  1 , Nele Struyf  1 , Wim Saeys  1
Affiliations
Review

Effect of home-based virtual reality training and telerehabilitation on balance in individuals with Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis, and stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Steven Truijen et al. Neurol Sci. 2022 May.

Abstract

Objective: In the last decade, there is a growing interest in the use of virtual reality for rehabilitation in clinical and home settings. The aim of this systematic review is to do a summary of the current evidence on the effect of home-based virtual reality training and telerehabilitation on postural balance in individuals with central neurological disorders.

Methods: Literature was searched in PubMed, Web of Science, PEDro, ScienceDirect, and MEDLINE. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of home-based virtual reality (VR) training and telerehabilitation (TR) on postural balance in patients with Parkinson's disease, Multiple sclerosis or stroke. Studies were imported to EndNote and Excel to perform two screening phases by four reviewers. Risk of bias was assessed using PEDro scale and Cochrane assessment tool for risk of bias. Synthesis of the data on comparative outcomes was performed using RevMan software.

Results: Seven RCTs were included, with all three pathologies represented. VR and TR consisted of a training device (e.g., Nintendo Wii or Xbox 360) and a monitoring device (e.g., Skype or Microsoft Kinect). Five studies used the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) for measuring postural balance. Across studies, there was an improvement in BBS scores over time in both experimental and control groups, and the effect remained at follow-up for both groups. However, there was no significant difference between groups post-intervention (MD = 0.74, p = 0.45).

Conclusion: Home-based VR and TR can be used as prolongation to conventional therapy.

Keywords: Balance; Multiple sclerosis; Parkinson’s disease; Stroke; Telerehabilitation; Virtual reality.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram of literature search and study selection procedure
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Risk of bias summary of all items for each included study
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Risk of bias graph of all items shown as a percentage across all included studies
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Comparison between EG and CG in BBS post-intervention
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Funnel plot
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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