Virtual reality rehabilitation trials reported modest functional gains after stroke
A review found small to moderate improvements in movement, daily function, and balance, while leaving long-term durability and details of the comparison treatments unclear.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The pooled trials reported improvements in arm and leg motor function, daily activities, and balance with virtual reality rehabilitation. Average effects were described as small to moderate. The abstract supports further investigation of this rehabilitation approach, but does not establish how long improvements last or which virtual reality setup is most suitable for particular patients.
The abstract does not specify comparison treatments, training durations, or participants' stage of stroke recovery. Those omissions limit interpretation of the pooled effects and their relevance to an individual rehabilitation setting.
What the scores mean
Leg motor function had a pooled Cohen's d of 0.41 (95% CI 0.25–0.57). This is a standardized difference on assessed outcomes, not a percentage improvement or evidence that participants recovered a particular everyday ability.
Several outcomes, unresolved questions
Arm movement, daily function, and balance also improved in the pooled analyses. Training cycle influenced effects in subgroup analyses, but the abstract does not identify a preferred schedule or establish whether gains were sustained.
The original publication
Virtual reality technology for upper and lower limb motor function, daily function, and balance in stroke patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Zhang W, Lyu S, Zhang S
PeerJ · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41356433
- Record checked
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