Virtual reality for limb motor function, balance, gait, cognition and daily function of stroke patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Aims: To explore the beneficial effects of virtual reality (VR) interventions on upper- and lower-limb motor function, balance, gait, cognition and daily function outcomes in stroke patients.

Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Data sources: English databases (PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses) and Chinese databases (Chinese BioMedical Literature Service System, WANFANG, CNKI) and the Clinical Trial Registry Platform were systematically searched from inception until December 2019. Additionally, reference lists of the included studies were manually searched.

Review methods: The methodological quality of studies was scored with the Cochrane 'risk-of-bias tool' and PEDro scale from the Physiotherapy Evidence Database by two independent evaluators.

Results: In total, 87 studies with 3540 participants were included. Stroke patients receiving VR interventions showed significant improvements in Fugl-Meyer assessment of Upper Extremity, Action Research Arm Test, Wolf Motor Function Test, Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Lower Extremity, Functional Ambulation Classification, Berg Balance Scale, Time Up and Go, Velocity, Cadence, Modified Barthel Index and Functional Independence Measure. However, differences between VR intervention and traditional rehabilitation groups were not significant for Box-Block Test, 10 m Walk Test, Auditory Continuous Performance Test, Mini-Mental State Examination and Visual Continuous Performance Test.

Conclusion: This review suggests that VR interventions effectively improve upper- and lower-limb motor function, balance, gait and daily function of stroke patients, but have no benefits on cognition.

Impact: This review identified the positive effects of VR-assisted rehabilitation on upper- and lower-limb motor function, balance, gait and daily function of stroke patients. And, we verified the duration of VR intervention affects some health benefits. The benefit of VR on cognitive function requires further investigation through large-scale multicentre RCTs.

Keywords: balance; cognition; gait; limb motor function; meta-analysis; nursing; stroke; systematic review; virtual reality.