The Effectiveness of Virtual Reality-Based Rehabilitation Versus Conventional Methods in Enhancing Functional...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Medicine
• Digital Health Technologies
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Physical therapy is vital for optimal outcomes post-surgery.
• Virtual reality (VR) is emerging as a potential tool for medical interventions.
• This systematic review assesses VR-based rehabilitation's impact on lower limb surgery recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically evaluate the efficacy of virtual reality and related technologies in postoperative lower limb rehabilitation.
• To synthesize evidence on VR's role in enhancing recovery after lower limb surgeries.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted (PROSPERO ID: CRD42024605158).
• Searches were performed across PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, PEDro, and Google Scholar.
• Studies were screened by title, abstract, and full text, with quality assessed using the PEDro scale and Risk of Bias 2 tool.

Main Results:

• Twenty-four studies met the inclusion criteria.
• VR and game-based interventions appear effective and safe adjuncts for lower limb surgeries.
• Improvements were noted in pain relief, proprioception, balance, and motivation, though superiority over standard rehabilitation is not consistently demonstrated.

Conclusions:

• Virtual reality and game-based rehabilitation can augment traditional therapy for knee and hip surgeries.
• Further research is necessary to confirm long-term benefits and establish definitive effectiveness compared to standard rehabilitation alone.