Work

Serious games and virtual reality in Parkinson's disease rehabilitation: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Year: 2026

Type: review

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Serious games (SG) and virtual reality (VR) are emerging rehabilitation tools in Parkinson's disease (PD); however, clinical evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) remains heterogeneous. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review RCTs evaluating SG and VR-based rehabilitation on motor and cognitive outcomes in PD. METHODS: PRISMA 2020-compliant search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, Web of Science, and Scopus (January 2015-January 2025), augmented with visuomotor-adaptation search terms. RCTs involving adults with idiopathic PD using SG or VR versus conventional rehabilitation were included. Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane RoB 2.0. RESULTS: Eleven RCTs (N = 242; Hoehn-Yahr I-III) were included. Balance (BBS), gait speed (10MWT), and mobility (TUG) improved consistently. UPDRS-III improvements were observed with protocols ≥8 weeks. Three trials reported significant gains in executive function and attention. Adherence was high and no serious adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: SG and VR-based rehabilitation are safe, feasible, and effective adjuncts to conventional therapy for improving balance, gait, and selected cognitive domains in PD. Standardized protocols and long-term follow-up are needed.

Source: Parkinsonism & Related Disorders

DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2026.108408

Authors: Edilaine Silva, Danilo Rocha, Eduardo Naves

Institution: Universidade Federal de Uberlândia

Language: English

Topic: Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention

Subfield: Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,460