Geriatrics
Effects of Virtual Reality-Based Rehabilitation on Postural Balance in Older Adults: A Systematic Review
By Neiva BOM, Martins AMS, Beze MAR and 15 others.
Abstract
Background
Population aging has been accompanied by an increased incidence of falls, fractures, and functional disability, representing a major global public health challenge. In this context, virtual reality (VR)-based rehabilitation has emerged as an innovative therapeutic strategy providing multimodal sensory and motor stimulation, facilitating motor learning, and enhancing treatment adherence through gamified, interactive environments.
Objective
To investigate the effectiveness of VR-based rehabilitation on postural balance training in older adults through a systematic review.
Methods
This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 and prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261303119). Comprehensive literature searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, LILACS, and SciELO to identify studies published between 2015 and 2026. Randomized and non-randomized clinical trials evaluating VR rehabilitation in adults aged 60 years and older, with postural balance as the primary outcome, were eligible. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro Scale, and certainty of evidence was evaluated using GRADE. Data were synthesized using a qualitative, descriptive approach.