Volume 33, Issue 10 (2-2026)
JSSU 2026, 33(10): 9472-9484 |
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Azizian M, Yalfani A, Gholami-Borujeni B. Effect of Virtual Reality Rehabilitation on the Balance and Fall Risk of Elderly: A Systematic Review. JSSU 2026; 33 (10) :9472-9484
URL: http://jssu.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-6459-en.html
URL: http://jssu.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-6459-en.html
Abstract: (8 Views)
Introduction: Falling and balance disorders are the main causes of injuries in the elderly. Imbalance and the likelihood of falling are important health indicators. This research aimed to perform a systematic review of the effect of a virtual-reality rehabilitation protocol on balance and the risk of falling in the elderly.
Methods: Articles were searched in the databases of Jihad Daneshgahi, Magiran, Irandoc, Alamnet, PEDro, Trip PubMed databases, and Google Scholar search engine utilizing different keywords, including elderly, rehabilitation, virtual reality balance exercises, and fall risk in Persian, along with English keywords and fall risk in Persian, virtual-reality rehabilitation exercises in English, and virtual-reality-reality exercises. Additionally, the quality of the selected articles relied on the National Institutes of Health tool.
Results: Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 10 studies were selected from a total of 329 studies to examine the results. The quality of the selected studies, according to the National Institutes of Health tool, indicated that 5 studies were of high quality while 5 studies were of moderate quality. The results showed a statistically significant difference between virtual reality exercises and other rehabilitation protocols regarding balance and fall risk in the elderly.
Conclusion: Virtual reality exercises enhances balance and reduce fall risk in the elderly by strengthening the central nervous system. The elderly appear to show more interested in using virtual reality exercises for enhancing physical activity compared to traditional protocols, prompting physiotherapists and therapists to incorporate these exercises into rehabilitation.
Methods: Articles were searched in the databases of Jihad Daneshgahi, Magiran, Irandoc, Alamnet, PEDro, Trip PubMed databases, and Google Scholar search engine utilizing different keywords, including elderly, rehabilitation, virtual reality balance exercises, and fall risk in Persian, along with English keywords and fall risk in Persian, virtual-reality rehabilitation exercises in English, and virtual-reality-reality exercises. Additionally, the quality of the selected articles relied on the National Institutes of Health tool.
Results: Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 10 studies were selected from a total of 329 studies to examine the results. The quality of the selected studies, according to the National Institutes of Health tool, indicated that 5 studies were of high quality while 5 studies were of moderate quality. The results showed a statistically significant difference between virtual reality exercises and other rehabilitation protocols regarding balance and fall risk in the elderly.
Conclusion: Virtual reality exercises enhances balance and reduce fall risk in the elderly by strengthening the central nervous system. The elderly appear to show more interested in using virtual reality exercises for enhancing physical activity compared to traditional protocols, prompting physiotherapists and therapists to incorporate these exercises into rehabilitation.
Type of Study: Review article |
Subject:
Medical Physics
Received: 2025/06/8 | Accepted: 2025/08/11 | Published: 2026/02/4
Received: 2025/06/8 | Accepted: 2025/08/11 | Published: 2026/02/4
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