Virtual Reality for Upper Limb Rehabilitation in Traumatic Brain Injury: a Systematic Review

To examine the effects of virtual reality (VR) on upper limb function in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to provide future recommendations on this topic.

Six studies met our eligibility criteria. Sixty-one participants (Mean age 31.24 years), 38% of whom were females, were included in this review. Three studies administrated a single session of VR-based training, and three delivered multiple sessions. One study revealed “good” quality, and the remaining studies exhibited “poor” quality. The included studies showed that VR training may enhance upper limb function post-TBI.

The evidence for the effects of VR on upper limb function in patients with TBI is limited. Additional studies are warranted to explain the influence of VR in this population, to identify the optimal treatment protocol, to understand the effects of various factors on motor recovery, and to define the relationship between motor recovery and functional outcomes.