Keywords
virtual reality
balance
gross motor skills
fine motor skills
rehabilitation
cognitive functions
Abstract
Introduction. This work is dedicated to the application of virtual reality (VR) technology for the rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy (CP).
The aim of work is a systematic analysis of current scientific data concerning the efficacy and safety of VR technologies in the rehabilitation process for the pediatric population with CP, with the identification of limitations and promising directions for further research.
Materials and methods. A systematic search and analytical review of relevant publications from 2016 to 2025 was conducted on the PubMed, eLibrary.ru, and CyberLeninka platforms. The inclusion criteria were relevance to the topic and type of publication (reviews, clinical and experimental studies). After excluding duplicates and irrelevant sources, 34 publications (5 domestic and 29 international) were selected for detailed analysis.
Results. The analysis revealed that VR rehabilitation, based on the principles of intensive repetitive training aimed at stimulating neuroplasticity, is used in various forms (immersive, semi-immersive, non-immersive). Regarding upper limb function, balance, and gross motor skills, data from meta-analyses and systematic reviews are contradictory. A number of studies demonstrate statistically significant improvements in fine motor skills and grip strength, while others show no superiority over conventional therapy. In the context of improving balance and gross motor skills, some studies confirm the effectiveness of VR; however, the long-term effects and the impact on patients with high levels on the GMFCS (III-IV) remain understudied.
Conclusion. Preliminary data indicate a potential positive effect of VR on cognitive functions and spatial navigation. A key advantage of the method is high patient motivation and compliance, as well as the possibility of conducting therapy in an outpatient setting. The main limiting factors are the risk of cybersickness, high equipment cost, decreased motivation when using repetitive scenarios, and insufficient adaptation of commercial software. Rehabilitation using virtual reality technology is a promising adjuvant method in the comprehensive management of children with CP. However, the existing body of evidence is characterized by the low or very low quality of many studies, the presence of methodological limitations, and inconsistent results. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to generate representative conclusions about the efficacy and safety of this approach.
For citation
Suslonova AP, Koryakina OV. Virtual reality as a rehabilitation tool for children with cerebral palsy: A review of current research. USMU Medical Bulletin. 2025;10(4):e00193. (In Russ.). DOI: https://doi.org/10.52420/usmumb.10.4.e00193. EDN: https://elibrary.ru/VTSTBP.
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