Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 17, 2026
A Rehabilitation Program of Exoskeleton-assisted Body Weight-Supported Treadmill Training with Non-immersive Virtual Reality for Stroke Patients
Published on: May 16, 2025
Effect of Adding Virtual Reality to Individualized Exercise Therapy on Gross Motor Function, Balance, and Functional
1Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Institute of Health Sciences, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
Insights
Adding virtual reality (VR) training to physical therapy significantly improved gross motor function, balance, and mobility in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy (CP). These findings suggest VR offers additional benefits for pediatric CP rehabilitation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Hemiparetic cerebral palsy (CP) affects motor function in children.
- Individualized exercise therapy is a common treatment approach.
- Exploring novel interventions to enhance rehabilitation outcomes is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of adding virtual reality (VR) training to conventional exercise therapy for children with hemiparetic CP.
- To assess VR's effect on gross motor function, balance, and functional mobility.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 31 children with hemiparetic CP.
- Participants were assigned to an experimental group (exercise therapy + VR) or a control group (exercise therapy alone).
- Intervention lasted 12 weeks, with VR implemented twice weekly.
Main Results:
- The experimental group showed significant improvements in gross motor function, balance, and functional mobility (P < .05).
- The control group demonstrated improvements in most parameters, excluding the timed up and go test and one-leg standing with eyes closed.
- Comparative analysis revealed significantly greater improvements in the experimental group (P < .05).
Conclusions:
- Virtual reality training, when added to individualized exercise therapy, shows potential for enhancing gross motor function, balance, and functional mobility in children with hemiparetic CP.
- VR may serve as a valuable adjunct therapy for pediatric CP.
- Further research can explore long-term effects and optimal VR protocols.
Abstract:
The aim was to investigate the effect of adding virtual reality (VR) training to an individualized exercise therapy program in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy (CP). Thirty-one children with hemiparetic CP were randomly allocated into 2 groups as experimental (n = 16) and control (n = 15). Experimental group received additional VR twice a week for 12 weeks. Gross motor function (Gross Motor Function Measure-66), balance (one leg standing), and functional mobility (timed up and go test) were evaluated. All parameters were improved in the experimental group (P < .05). In the control group, all parameters other than timed up and go test, and eyes closed one leg standing improved (P < .05). When the changes in the groups were compared, greater improvements were detected in the experimental group (P < .05). Adding VR training to the individualized exercise therapy program may have potential additional benefits for improving gross motor function, balance, and functional mobility in children with hemiparetic CP.
