Immersive virtual reality as physical therapy in older adults: present or future (systematic review)

Abstract

Increased life expectancy leads to an increase in the number of older adults and in the prevalence of aging-associated diseases and disabilities. Active aging strategies—particularly those based on physical exercise therapy— have great positive impact on older people’s health. Virtual reality (VR) represents an innovative approach to involve and motivate patients during therapy sessions. Exergaming programs based on VR technologies and commercially available gaming platforms are amenable to therapeutic use in older adults, according to various systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The use of immersive virtual reality (IVR) in the field of rehabilitation or physical skills training in seniors is understudied.In the present systematic review, we analyze the therapeutic use and application of IVR in older adults through physical activity. We describe the populations studied, the conditions of IVR application (device, session, physical, and virtual environments), its potential benefits, and its limitations. We found that most studies are feasibility pilot experiences, where the use and acceptability of the immersive platform were evaluated. Cumulative data suggest that the use of IVR with therapeutic intent in senior populations is in early stages of clinical development and shows promise as a complementary tool in the fields of health, rehabilitation, and active aging.