Effect of Virtual Reality Therapy on Balance and Walking in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review
Nadieh Warnier1, Suzanne Lambregts2, Ingrid Van De Port2
1Rijndam Revalidatie centrum , Rotterdam, LJ, Netherlands.
Insights
Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT) significantly improves balance and walking in children with cerebral palsy (CP). This therapy shows promise for CP rehabilitation, enhancing motor skills in affected children.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders affecting movement and posture, significantly impacting children's quality of life.
- Impaired balance and walking are common challenges for children with CP, necessitating effective therapeutic interventions.
- Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT) offers an immersive and engaging approach for motor rehabilitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically evaluate the efficacy of Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT) in improving balance and walking abilities in pediatric populations diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP).
- To synthesize existing research through meta-analysis to quantify the effects of VRT on key motor functions in children with CP.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive systematic literature search was conducted across major databases (PubMed, Embase) up to July 9, 2019.
- Inclusion criteria focused on studies involving children with CP reporting data on balance and/or walking outcomes.
- Two separate meta-analyses were performed to pool data on balance and walking improvements.
Main Results:
- Twenty-six articles met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review.
- Meta-analyses revealed a significant positive effect of VRT on balance (SMD 0.89) and walking (SMD 3.10) in children with CP.
- Effect sizes indicate a substantial benefit favoring VRT for both assessed motor functions.
Conclusions:
- Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT) emerges as a promising and effective intervention for the rehabilitation of balance and walking deficits in children with cerebral palsy (CP).
- The meta-analysis provides quantitative support for the positive impact of VRT, highlighting its potential in enhancing motor function.
- Findings should be interpreted cautiously due to heterogeneity in VRT protocols, a limited number of randomized controlled trials, and small sample sizes in the included studies.
Abstract:
Aim: To investigate the effect of Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT) on balance and walking in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Method: A systematic search in Pubmed and Embase was performed until the 9th of July 2019. Articles were included if the population consisted of children with CP and data on balance and/or walking were reported. Results were pooled in two meta-analyses. Results: 26 articles were included. For 'balance' 5 and for 'walking' 4 were used for the meta-analyses. The meta-analyses showed a significant result in favor of VRT for balance, SMD 0.89 [95% CI, SD 0.14, 1.63] and for walking, SMD 3.10 [95% Cl, SD 0.78, 5.35]. Interpretation: VRT seems a promising intervention for rehabilitation in children with CP. The meta-analysis confirmed this positive effect. These results must be interpreted with caution due to differences in the interventions used, the lack of randomized-controlled trials, and the relatively small groups.
