Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Systems to Improve the Activities of Daily Life in Older People

Ana-Isabel Corregidor-Sánchez, Antonio Segura-Fragoso, Juan-José Criado-Álvarez, Marta Rodríguez-Hernández, Alicia Mohedano-Moriano and Begoña Polonio-López
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Ana-Isabel Corregidor-Sánchez: Faculty of Sciences Health, University of Castilla la Mancha, 45600 Talavera de la Reina, Spain
Antonio Segura-Fragoso: Faculty of Sciences Health, University of Castilla la Mancha, 45600 Talavera de la Reina, Spain
Juan-José Criado-Álvarez: Faculty of Sciences Health, University of Castilla la Mancha, 45600 Talavera de la Reina, Spain
Marta Rodríguez-Hernández: Faculty of Sciences Health, University of Castilla la Mancha, 45600 Talavera de la Reina, Spain
Alicia Mohedano-Moriano: Faculty of Sciences Health, University of Castilla la Mancha, 45600 Talavera de la Reina, Spain
Begoña Polonio-López: Faculty of Sciences Health, University of Castilla la Mancha, 45600 Talavera de la Reina, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-24

Abstract: (1) This review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments with virtual reality systems (VRSs) on the functional autonomy of older adults versus conventional treatment. (3) Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis. An electronic data search was carried out, following the PRISMA statement, up to February 2020. We combined results from clinical trials using VRSs for the improvement of basic and instrumental activities of daily living. The guidelines of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions were followed for calculations and risk of bias. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to assess the quality of evidence. (4) Results: The final analysis included 23 studies with a population of 1595 participants. A moderate, but clinically significant, effect was found for basic activities of daily living (BADLs), (Standard Medium Deviation, SMD 0.61; 95% CI: ?0.15–1.37; P < 0.001). A small effect was found for instrumental ADLs (Instrumental Activities of daily living, IADLs) (SMD ?0.34; 95% CI: ?0.82–0.15; P < 0.001). Functional ambulation was the BADL which improved the most (SMD ?0.63; 95% CI: ?0.86, ?0.40; P < 0.001). (5) Conclusion: The use of VRSs is an innovative and feasible technique to support and improve the functional autonomy of community-dwelling older adults. Due to the very low quality of the evidence for our main outcomes, the effects of a VRS on the BADLs and IADLs are uncertain. Clinical trials of a higher methodological quality are necessary to increase the level of knowledge of its actual effectiveness.

Keywords: virtual reality; functional autonomy; rehabilitation; exergame (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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