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01-12-2023 | Stroke | Review

The effectiveness of virtual reality games in improving cognition, mobility, and emotion in elderly post-stroke patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors: Chenli Lin, Yuanyuan Ren, Aming Lu

Published in: Neurosurgical Review | Issue 1/2023

Abstract

This review is aimed to assess the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) games on cognition, mobility, and emotion in elderly stroke patients. We selected relevant articles from eight databases from 2011 to 2022 and extracted articles on cognitive ability (general cognition, mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) et al.), mobility (modified Barthel index (MBI), Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), Berg balance scale (BBS), functional independence measure motor (FIM MOT)), and emotion (depression/anxiety). Twenty-nine studies including 1311 participants were included in the analysis. In the results, virtual reality games were more effective in improving overall cognitive function in stroke patients compared to conventional therapies. In addition, the intervention group in the MMSE (SMD = 0.6, 95%CI = 0.26–0.95, P = 0.0007), MoCA (MD = 1.97, 95%CI = 1.3–2.64, P < 0.00001), and attention test (MD = 0.25, 95% CI = 0.01–0.49, P < 0.00001) scores were also higher. In terms of physical function, MBI (SMD = 0.61, 95%CI = 0.14–1.08, P = 0.01), FMA (SMD = 0.47, 95%CI = 0.02–0.93, P = 0.04), BBS (SMD = 0.78, 95%CI = 0.42–1.15, P < 0.0001), and FIM MOT (MD = 5.87, 95%CI = 2.57–9.17, P = 0.0005) indicators showed better results. It is also observed that virtual reality games can effectively relieve depression and improve mental health in stroke patients. Sports game training, especially with VR equipment, had a positive impact on improving the cognitive performance, mobility, and emotional state of stroke patients compared to a control group. Although the improvement in cognitive ability is relatively low, the effect of improving physical activity and depression is obvious.

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Title: The effectiveness of virtual reality games in improving cognition, mobility, and emotion in elderly post-stroke patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Chenli Lin
Yuanyuan Ren
Aming Lu
Publication date: 01-12-2023
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keyword: Stroke
Published in: Neurosurgical Review / Issue 1/2023
Print ISSN: 0344-5607
Electronic ISSN: 1437-2320
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10143-023-02061-w

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The effectiveness of virtual reality games in improving cognition, mobility, and emotion in elderly post-stroke patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

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Abstract

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