Effect of Virtual Reality Therapy on Balance and Walking in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT

Aim: To investigate the effect of Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT) on balance and walking in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Method: A systematic search in Pubmed and Embase was performed until the 9th of July 2019. Articles were included if the population consisted of children with CP and data on balance and/or walking were reported. Results were pooled in two meta-analyses.

Results: 26 articles were included. For ‘balance’ 5 and for ‘walking’ 4 were used for the meta-analyses. The meta-analyses showed a significant result in favor of VRT for balance, SMD 0.89 [95% CI, SD 0.14, 1.63] and for walking, SMD 3.10 [95% Cl, SD 0.78, 5.35].

Interpretation: VRT seems a promising intervention for rehabilitation in children with CP. The meta-analysis confirmed this positive effect. These results must be interpreted with caution due to differences in the interventions used, the lack of randomized-controlled trials, and the relatively small groups.

KEYWORDS:

• Virtual reality therapy
• balance and walking
• meta-analysis

Disclosure of interest

All authors confirm that there are no conflicts of interests.