Efficacy of Virtual Reality Rehabilitation after Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review
Filed under Treatments
De Araújo, A. V. L., Neiva, J. F. D. O., Monteiro, C. B. D. M., & Magalhães, F. H. (2019). Efficacy of virtual reality rehabilitation after spinal cord injury: A systematic review. BioMed Research International, 2019(1), 7106951. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/7106951
Efficacy of Virtual Reality Rehabilitation after Spinal Cord Injury
Emilee Sanders, OTS
The Skinny:
Virtual reality (VR) rehabilitation may help individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) improve motor function, motor skills, balance, and aerobic function and reduce pain either as a standalone intervention or in conjunction with rehabilitation therapies. This is a first systematic review of its kind concerning the effectiveness of VR and SCI in rehabilitation.
In the Weeds:
The systematic review includes 25 studies which contained randomized controlled trials, nonrandomized controlled trials, quasi experimental studies, and before and after studies.
Participant inclusion criteria: Male and Female participants aged 18-65 years with spinal cord injury (traumatic or nontraumatic) who participated in immersive or non immersive VR-based therapy.
Two reviewers extracted data based on participant characteristics, study characteristics, methodological details, VR effects, bias risk, size effects, statistical power, and limitations.
The reviewers used a p value of < 0.05 to assess whether the effects of VR-based rehabilitation were significant for the allotted category (motor function, aerobic function, pain, balance, or psychological aspects).
Bringing it home:
Studies showed a short-term improvement on motor function, aerobic performance, balance, pain, and psychological aspects. Long-term benefits were also shown for motor function, balance, and pain. Some subjective reports from participants included better mood, satisfaction improvements, and high enjoyment.
Note. From “Efficacy of Virtual Reality Rehabilitation after Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review” by A. V. L. De Araújo, J. F. D. O. Neiva, C. B. D. M. Monteiro, & F. H. Magalhães, 2019, BioMed Research International, 2019(1), 7106951. (https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/7106951). Copyright © 2019 Amanda Vito ́ria Lacerda de Arau ́jo et al.
Overall, the studies did not report any negative effects due to VR therapy. In the studies that did report adverse effects, a small number of participants had a short-lived muscle pain, physical fatigue, and difficulties with attention span, and one study reported a few participants having simulator sickness.
Rating (0-5 rating scale):
3/5 This study was well done for what was possible. They found that only 7/25 studies had high quality evidence. Furthermore, the exact protocols/ VR-interventions were not provided, so it is hard to ensure the specific activities and exercises did not affect the outcomes. It would also be important to note if certain VR-based activities were more therapeutically beneficial than others.
The study states that due to this limited evidence, they recommend that VR-rehabilitation be used in conjunction with conventional therapies, and I agree based on the present findings.
More To Read
Scar Management in Hand Therapy
Hand therapists may feel they are in a constant battle with scar tissue. It can limit ROM, cause pain, impede other structures, and leave a less than desirable appearance. Scar tissue starts forming as early as 2 weeks after an injury and can continue forming for up to 2 years. The earlier action is taken…
Mirror Therapy
Mirror therapy has many implications for therapy and can be used to treat many diagnoses that commonly involve the upper extremity. These include some of the Neuro Conditions we highlighted last week including, Stroke and Focal Hand Dystonia. Btw, you can download a mirror therapy exercises pdf here for free. How long should the patient…
What is the Effectiveness of IASTM?
Citation Kim, J., Sung, D. J., Lee, J. (2017). Therapeutic effectiveness of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization for soft tissue injury: Mechanisms and practical application. Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation, 13(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.12965/jer.1732824.412 The skinny IASTM is a relatively simple technique that uses the surface of an instrument to minimize the amount of pressure or force needed…
Therapeutic Interventions and Contraindications of Cupping
By Kaylen Kallander Cupping therapy is used to apply negative pressure to a localized area of muscular or neurological pain to relieve nerve pressure and increase blood flow to an affected area. This modality is commonly used for athletes, but is also a frequent treatment in physical therapy, occupational therapy, or hand therapy. While cupping…
Sign-up to Get Updates Straight to Your Inbox!
Sign up with us and we will send you regular blog posts on everything hand therapy, notices every time we upload new videos and tutorials, along with handout, protocols, and other useful information.