Effect of virtual reality therapy on pain relief in sports rehabilitation for young adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: Virtual reality is an emerging technology that intends to promote motor and perceptual-cognitive skills, which could benefit people with sports injuries. However, there is a lack of meta-analyses on its effectiveness in sports injury rehabilitation for young adults.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials evaluated the effectiveness of virtual reality therapy (VRT) on sports-related musculoskeletal rehabilitation in reducing pain and improving functional levels and balance among young adults.

Methods: Studies and relevant reviews were searched using PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Web of Science, Scopus, grey literature in Google Scholar, ProQuest Dissertation and Theses, and manual searching of reference lists. Studies published up to 19 March 2024 involving young adults aged 18-40 with sports-related injuries undergoing VRT were included. The comparator was conventional rehabilitation. Meta-analysis was done by pooling standardised mean differences (SMD) or mean differences (MD) of pain, functional levels, and balance outcomes using the random-effects model. Quality appraisal was done using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE).

Results: Eleven studies (n = 507 participants) were included. VRT seems significantly superior to conventional therapy in improving pain post-intervention (pooled SMD -5.16, 95% CI -7.36 to -2.97) and at long-term follow-up (pooled SMD -10.08, 95% CI -12.46 to -8.01). However, outcomes for functional levels and balance measured using the Star Excursion Balance Test were non-significant. Five trials had a low risk of bias, 3 were at high risk, and 3 had an unclear risk of bias. Outcomes were of very low to low certainty.

Conclusion: VRT seems able to significantly improve pain among young adults with sports-related musculoskeletal injuries. Therapists and clinicians can consider incorporating VRT in rehabilitation to engage participants and improve outcomes. Limited research has investigated the effect of VRT on function and balance.

Keywords: Meta-analysis; Rehabilitation; Sports injuries; Systematic review; Virtual reality; Young adults.