Use of interventions involving virtual reality tasks during the climacteric: a systematic review

Abstract

Technological advances have been impacting health care worldwide. Our study aimed to research the literature systematically to determine the impact of technological treatments versus conventional treatments on the quality of life of climacteric women. The study was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021241638). We searched seven databases, including PRISMA, using mesh terms. After screening for eligibility, we selected five clinical trials, and applying the snowball technique we were able to include four more articles, totaling nine articles that used technology-based interventions (virtual reality games) during the climacteric. The total study population consisted of 298 climacteric women. Two studies evaluated a technology-based treatment for pelvic floor, one for urinary incontinence symptoms, three for postural balance, one for cardiorespiratory capacity, one for osteoporosis and one study for lower back pain. The studies showed that the technological treatments improved pelvic floor strength, balance, cardiorespiratory fitness and bone mineral density when compared to conventional treatments. Improvement was linked to adherence to training and a high level of satisfaction during the training sessions. Technology-based treatments appear to be a viable alternative to conventional treatments in improving the quality of health, with benefits for the cardiovascular, genitourinary and skeletal systems, and ultimately for the overall quality of life.

摘要

技术进步一直在影响着全世界的医疗保健。我们的研究旨在系统地研究文献, 以确定技术疗法与传统疗法对更年期妇女生活质量的影响。该研究在Prospero上注册(CRD42021241638)。 我们使用网络术语搜索了7个数据库, 包括PRISMA。 经过资格筛选后, 我们选择了五项临床试验, 并应用雪球技术, 能够包括另外四篇文章, 总共九篇文章在更年期期间使用了基于技术的干预（虚拟现实游戏）。研究的总人数包括298名更年期妇女。两项研究评估了基于技术的盆底治疗, 一项用于尿失禁症状, 三项用于姿势平衡, 一项用于心肺功能, 一项用于骨质疏松, 一项用于下背部疼痛。研究表明, 与常规疗法相比, 技术疗法改善了盆底力量、平衡、心肺功能和骨密度。改进与坚持培训和培训期间的高满意度有关。在改善健康质量方面, 以技术为基础的疗法似乎是传统疗法的可行替代方案, 有利于心血管、泌尿生殖和骨骼系统, 并最终提高整体生活质量。

Keywords:

• Postmenopause
• climacteric
• virtual reality
• video games
• user–computer interface
• systematic review

Potential conflict of interest

None.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES) [scholarship to J.Z.-R. 25772861808]; CNPq (Brasilia, Br) [Grant # 301725/2017-9].