Virtual Rehabilitation in Spinal Cord Injury Patients: Realities and Future Perspectives. A Systematic Review

To evaluate the effectiveness of new rehabilitation tools, such as virtual reality (VR), in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI), focusing on upper limb motor functions, balance, and pain management.

We systematically searched English medical papers in PubMed, the Web of Knowledge, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar, from January 2014 to January 2024, evaluating 12 publications. VR showed benefits in enhancing upper limb motor function compared to conventional therapy and was effective in balance recovery through interactive and repetitive exercises, improving proprioceptive feedback and neuromuscular control. For pain management, VR provided immediate relief, though long-term benefits remain uncertain.

While VR exhibited promising outcomes in SCI recovery, the effectiveness and long-term impacts require further investigation. To validate these findings, standardized VR protocols and long-term studies on large samples will be needed. Integrating VR with other therapies could enhance its effectiveness, offering a comprehensive approach to neurorehabilitation and improved patient care.