Effects of Virtual Reality Training and Whole-Body Vibration Training on Fall-Related Functional Outcomes in Older...

To evaluate the effects of virtual reality (VR) and whole-body vibration (WBV) training on muscle strength and balance-related functional outcomes in older adults.

PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, and Embase were searched from inception to March 2026. Randomised controlled trials assessing VR or WBV training in samples with a mean participant age of ≥60 years were included. Outcomes were the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, handgrip strength, Tinetti score, five-times sit-to-stand test, and gait speed. Pooled mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Subgroup analyses and Bucher-adjusted indirect comparisons were used to explore potential relative effects.

Thirty-two trials involving 1359 participants were included. VR training reduced TUG completion time (MD = -1.13, 95% CI -1.70 to -0.55, p = 0.0001) and improved handgrip strength (MD = 3.49, 95% CI 0.46 to 6.52, p = 0.02), Tinetti scores (MD = 0.84, 95% CI 0.46 to 1.21, p < 0.0001), and gait speed (MD = 0.16, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.24, p = 0.0003). WBV training reduced TUG completion time (MD = -3.92, 95% CI: -6.36 to -1.48, p = 0.002) and five-times sit-to-stand completion time (MD = -1.20, 95% CI -2.03 to -0.38, p = 0.004).

VR and WBV training may improve functional mobility and dynamic balance in older adults, although their effects may vary across functional domains. Because direct head-to-head trials are lacking, comparative findings should be interpreted as exploratory evidence.