Virtual reality training showed favorable results after knee ligament reconstruction
A comparison of rehabilitation trials favored some training approaches on specific outcomes, while imprecision and risk of bias limited confidence.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
According to the abstract, virtual reality training favored pain, hopping and muscle-strength results versus conventional rehabilitation. Blood flow restriction training also favored knee questionnaires and range of motion over conventional rehabilitation. The evidence had low to moderate certainty, so the size and reliability of these differences remain uncertain.
Evidence certainty was low to moderate because estimates were imprecise and studies had potential bias. Follow-up lengths were not reported in the abstract, limiting conclusions about how long the differences lasted.
What researchers found
Pain on a visual analogue scale, standardized mean difference
Virtual reality versus conventional rehabilitation after surgery; assessment timing was not reported. Negative values favor lower pain, in standard-deviation units rather than points on the pain scale.
Different outcomes favored different approaches
This network meta-analysis compared several rehabilitation approaches across randomized trials. Different outcomes favored different approaches, so improvement on pain or a knee questionnaire should not be interpreted as overall superiority across rehabilitation goals.
What rankings can establish
The review also reported treatment rankings. Such rankings summarize relative standing within the analyzed evidence; they do not convert uncertain results into proof that one approach is best for every patient.
The original publication
Comparative effectiveness of neuromuscular, virtual reality, proprioceptive, blood flow restriction and conventional training after ACL reconstruction: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Zhao B, Zhao W, Chen L et al.
Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41733058
- Record checked
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