Effectiveness of Virtual Reality on Balance and Risk of Falls in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Ana Castellano-Aguilera, Gemma Biviá-Roig, Ferran Cuenca-Martínez, Luis Suso-Martí (), Joaquín Calatayud, María Blanco-Díaz () and José Casaña
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Ana Castellano-Aguilera: Exercise Intervention for Health Research Group (EXINH-RG), Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Gemma Biviá-Roig: Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University CEU-Cardenal Herrera, CEU Universities, 46115 Valencia, Spain
Ferran Cuenca-Martínez: Exercise Intervention for Health Research Group (EXINH-RG), Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Luis Suso-Martí: Exercise Intervention for Health Research Group (EXINH-RG), Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Joaquín Calatayud: Exercise Intervention for Health Research Group (EXINH-RG), Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
María Blanco-Díaz: Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialities Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Oviedo, 33003 Oviedo, Spain
José Casaña: Exercise Intervention for Health Research Group (EXINH-RG), Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 21, 1-14

Abstract: The aim of this study was to systematically review the scientific evidence related to the physiotherapy interventions in neurorehabilitation that utilize virtual reality (VR) for balance training and risk of falls in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). A search was conducted in Medline (PubMed), PEDro, and Google Scholar to identify all the relevant studies. Clinical trials assessing the effects of VR in people with MS were included. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and PEDro scale. Qualitative analysis was performed according to the GRADE. In total, 16 studies (n = 663) were included. The meta-analysis showed statistically significant differences for the VR intervention in comparison with conventional treatment for balance, with a moderate clinical effect in eight studies (SMD: 0.63; 95% CI 0.34–0.92; p < 0.05). In addition, the meta-analysis showed statistically significant differences for the VR intervention in comparison with conventional treatment for risk of falls, with a small clinical effect in six studies (SMD: −0.55; 95% CI −1.07–0.04; p < 0.05). VR-based treatments are more effective than non-intervention in improving balance and fall risk in people with MS, with a very low certainty of evidence. In addition, they also show to be more effective than conventional rehabilitation, with a very low certainty of evidence.

Keywords: virtual reality; multiple sclerosis; neurorehabilitation; balance; risk of falls (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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