Virtual Reality-Based Rehabilitation for Postural Control and Functional Outcome in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Narrative Review | ||
| The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine | ||
| Article 33, Volume 101, Issue 1, October 2025, Pages 4813-4816 PDF (432.15 K) | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejhm.2025.456832 | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Purpose of Review: Virtual reality (VR)–based rehabilitation has gained attention as a potential therapeutic approach for neurological disorders. Recently, there has been growing interest in its use to improve postural control, balance, and functional mobility in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). This review aims to examine and discuss the current evidence on the effectiveness of VR in enhancing postural control and functional outcome in individuals with PD. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, PEDro, Science Direct and Google Scholar was conducted using keywords such as Parkinson’s disease, virtual reality, postural control, balance, and neurorehabilitation. This review included articles published between 2012–2025, and only English-language studies were reviewed. Unpublished manuscripts, conference abstracts, and studies with insufficient scientific rigor were excluded. Results: Evidence from randomized controlled trials indicates that VR interventions can improve postural stability, functional mobility, and, in some cases, reduce fall risk in PD. VR also enhances cognitive-motor performance through dual-task training, while immersive, interactive, and gamified environments increase motivation, adherence, and long-term engagement. However, study sample sizes are generally small, and protocols vary widely, limiting the ability to establish standardized treatment guidelines. Conclusion: Current literature indicates that Virtual reality is an effective adjunct for improving postural control in Parkinson’s disease, whereas its effect on functional outcome is less consistent. Future research should prioritize standardized protocols, larger trials, and long-term follow-up. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Parkinson’s disease; virtual reality; rehabilitation; postural control; balance; functional outcome; neurorehabilitation | ||
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