Virtual reality gaming as a neurorehabilitation tool for brain injuries in adults: A systematic review

Aulisio, Madeline; Han, Deping; Glueck, Amanda C.

doi:10.1080/02699052.2020.1802779

Cited by 32 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Five clinical studies [ 32 , 33 , 36 , 37 ] and two systematic reviews [ 34 , 35 ] on the cognitive effects of VR systems in TBI Neurorehabilitation were included. In particular, VR was used in two pilot studies [ 32 , 33 ] for the training of attention processes: a visuo-haptic virtual environment and a virtual touch modality by means of the Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System (VRRS) were used to improve cognitive function.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Innovative Technologies in the Neurorehabilitation of Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review

Bonanno

Luca

Nunzio³

et al. 2022

Brain Sciences

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Motor and cognitive rehabilitation in individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a growing field of clinical and research interest. In fact, novel rehabilitative approaches allow a very early verticalization and gait training through robotic devices and other innovative tools boosting neuroplasticity, thanks to the high-intensity, repetitive and task-oriented training. In the same way, cognitive rehabilitation is also evolving towards advanced interventions using virtual reality (VR), computer-based approaches, telerehabilitation and neuromodulation devices. This review aimed to systematically investigate the existing evidence concerning the role of innovative technologies in the motor and cognitive neurorehabilitation of TBI patients. We searched and reviewed the studies published in the Cochrane Library, PEDro, PubMed and Scopus between January 2012 and September 2022. After an accurate screening, only 29 papers were included in this review. This systematic review has demonstrated the beneficial role of innovative technologies when applied to cognitive rehabilitation in patients with TBI, while evidence of their effect on motor rehabilitation in this patient population is poor and still controversial.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Innovative Technologies in the Neurorehabilitation of Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review

Bonanno

Luca

Nunzio³

et al. 2022

Brain Sciences

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“…If exposure to virtual realities is subordinate to achieving long-term personal goals, digital technologies are able to improve the overall well-being of healthy individuals [6][7][8]. Furthermore, technologies employing virtual realities may be helpful to older adults suffering from cognitive decline and social isolation [9], may assist neurorehabilitation of patients with stroke [10] or traumatic brain injury [11], and may even be an essential ingredient for the replacement of lost functions through an appropriate brain-computer interface (BCI) that controls robotic devices [12][13][14][15][16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Virtual Reality for Neurorehabilitation and Cognitive Enhancement

et al. 2021

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Our access to computer-generated worlds changes the way we feel, how we think, and how we solve problems. In this review, we explore the utility of different types of virtual reality, immersive or non-immersive, for providing controllable, safe environments that enable individual training, neurorehabilitation, or even replacement of lost functions. The neurobiological effects of virtual reality on neuronal plasticity have been shown to result in increased cortical gray matter volumes, higher concentration of electroencephalographic beta-waves, and enhanced cognitive performance. Clinical application of virtual reality is aided by innovative brain–computer interfaces, which allow direct tapping into the electric activity generated by different brain cortical areas for precise voluntary control of connected robotic devices. Virtual reality is also valuable to healthy individuals as a narrative medium for redesigning their individual stories in an integrative process of self-improvement and personal development. Future upgrades of virtual reality-based technologies promise to help humans transcend the limitations of their biological bodies and augment their capacity to mold physical reality to better meet the needs of a globalized world.

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“…Issues identified in experimental studies include heterogeneity (eg, severity of TBI, VR system used, and outcome measures) with small sample sizes and a lack of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), resulting in the inability to perform meta-analysis [ 68 , 71 ]. Existing reviews provide important information; however, many reviews are not systematic in design or lack quality appraisal of included studies [ 34 , 45 , 56 , 57 , 70 ], focus on VR for only cognitive or motor impairments [ 68 - 72 ], do not consider immersive VR only [ 45 , 56 , 57 , 68 - 72 , 78 ], or do not review both assessment and treatment studies [ 56 , 57 , 68 , 69 , 72 , 78 ]. As literature to date has not focused on using immersive VR across the clinical spectrum of TBI rehabilitation, this review aims to identify and evaluate the use of immersive VR for the assessment and treatment of any impairment sustained within this group.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recommendations for the Design and Implementation of Virtual Reality for Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation: Systematic Review

et al. 2021

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Background Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly being used for the assessment and treatment of impairments arising from acquired brain injuries (ABIs) due to perceived benefits over traditional methods. However, no tailored options exist for the design and implementation of VR for ABI rehabilitation and, more specifically, traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation. In addition, the evidence base lacks systematic reviews of immersive VR use for TBI rehabilitation. Recommendations for this population are important because of the many complex and diverse impairments that individuals can experience. Objective This study aims to conduct a two-part systematic review to identify and synthesize existing recommendations for designing and implementing therapeutic VR for ABI rehabilitation, including TBI, and to identify current evidence for using immersive VR for TBI assessment and treatment and to map the degree to which this literature includes recommendations for VR design and implementation. Methods This review was guided by PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). A comprehensive search of 11 databases and gray literature was conducted in August 2019 and repeated in June 2020. Studies were included if they met relevant search terms, were peer-reviewed, were written in English, and were published between 2009 and 2020. Studies were reviewed to determine the level of evidence and methodological quality. For the first part, qualitative data were synthesized and categorized via meta-synthesis. For the second part, findings were analyzed and synthesized descriptively owing to the heterogeneity of data extracted from the included studies. Results In the first part, a total of 14 papers met the inclusion criteria. Recommendations for VR design and implementation were not specific to TBI but rather to stroke or ABI rehabilitation more broadly. The synthesis and analysis of data resulted in three key phases and nine categories of recommendations for designing and implementing VR for ABI rehabilitation. In the second part, 5 studies met the inclusion criteria. A total of 2 studies reported on VR for assessment and three for treatment. Studies were varied in terms of therapeutic targets, VR tasks, and outcome measures. VR was used to assess or treat impairments in cognition, balance, and anxiety, with positive outcomes. However, the levels of evidence, methodological quality, and inclusion of recommendations for VR design and implementation were poor. Conclusions There is limited research on the use of immersive VR for TBI rehabilitation. Few studies have been conducted, and there is limited inclusion of recommendations for therapeutic VR design and implementation. Future research in ABI rehabilitation should consider a stepwise approach to VR development, from early co-design studies with end users to larger controlled trials. A list of recommendations is offered to provide guidance and a more consistent model to advance clinical research in this area.

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Virtual reality gaming as a neurorehabilitation tool for brain injuries in adults: A systematic review

Cited by 32 publications

References 29 publications

Innovative Technologies in the Neurorehabilitation of Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review

Innovative Technologies in the Neurorehabilitation of Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review

Virtual Reality for Neurorehabilitation and Cognitive Enhancement

Recommendations for the Design and Implementation of Virtual Reality for Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation: Systematic Review

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