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Virtual reality-based functional recovery in burn population: a systematic review
Hafiz Muddassir Riaz1,2, Muhammad Naveed Babur1, Haroon Mansha1
1Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, The Superior University Lahore, Pakistan.
International Journal of Burns and Trauma
|November 24, 2025
Summary
Virtual reality (VR) interventions show promise for improving functional recovery in burn patients, enhancing range of motion and quality of life. Further research is needed to confirm these benefits for mobility and daily activities.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Biomedical Engineering
- Physical Therapy
Background:
- Burn injuries significantly impair functional recovery, affecting range of motion, self-care, and quality of life.
- Traditional rehabilitation methods may present challenges in patient engagement and pain management during recovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR)-based interventions for functional recovery in adult burn survivors.
- To synthesize evidence on VR's impact on range of motion, activities of daily living (ADLs), independence, and quality of life.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases (PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Ovid, CINAHL, PEDro, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library) up to March 31, 2024.
- Randomized clinical trials assessing VR interventions for burn injury recovery were included, focusing on outcomes like Range of Motion (ROM) and ADLs.
- Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane Criteria version 2, and study evidence levels were appraised.
Main Results:
- Eight studies with 293 patients were included, with most studies classified as level A2 evidence and low risk of bias.
- Virtual reality interventions demonstrated improvements in range of motion, ability for self-care (ADLs), independence, and quality of life for burn patients.
- The strength of evidence for improvements in mobility and ADLs was moderate, suggesting a need for cautious interpretation.
Conclusions:
- Preliminary evidence suggests virtual reality (VR) is a beneficial adjunct for promoting functional recovery in burn rehabilitation.
- VR may reduce pain, improve joint mobility, and increase patient engagement, but findings are limited by study variability.
- Further high-quality research with standardized protocols, larger sample sizes, and longer follow-up is essential to confirm VR's efficacy in burn care.
