The Effects of Virtual Reality Training on Muscle Strength of the Elderly: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The objective of this systematic review is to examine the impact of virtual reality training (VRT) on muscle strength among older adults.

Primary sources were gathered from four databases: PubMed, Scopus, CENTRAL, and Web of Science. The search timeframe extended from the inception of these databases up to February 1, 2025. Standardized mean differences, weighted mean differences, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed using either random or fixed models for the outcomes assessed.

Following the screening process, 38 studies involving a total of 1,280 participants were included in the systematic review. The results of the meta-analysis showed that VRT increased upper-body muscle strength (1.89 [95% CI: 0.65 to 3.13], p = 0.003), lower-body muscle strength (0.68 [95% CI: 0.46 to 0.91], p = 0.001), and handgrip (0.45 [95% CI: 0.26 to 0.63], p = 0.001). Additionally, the results of the meta-analysis demonstrated that there was no significant difference between VRT and traditional training (TT) on lower-body muscle strength (0.04 [95% CI: -0.26 to 0.36), p = 0.75) and handgrip (0.06 [95% CI: -0.11 to 0.24], p = 0.48).

The results of meta-analysis demonstrated that VRT has a positive effect on the muscle strength of all three parts of the lower limb, upper limb, and HG. Also, comparing VRT with TT, no significant difference was observed between these two types of training.