{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,24]],"date-time":"2026-10-24T05:15:51Z","timestamp":1792818951382,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,5]],"date-time":"2025-02-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1738713600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Neurol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title><jats:p>The study aimed to explore the effects of virtual reality (VR) technology on motor function rehabilitation in critically ill patients.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>Adhering to the PRISMA systematic evaluation method for developing the literature ranking criteria and search strategy, the following databases were systematically searched: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang Data, Chinese Medical Journal Full-Text Database, and SINOMED. The search focused on the impact of virtual reality technology on limb function rehabilitation in critically ill patients, covering the period from the database\u2019s inception to 6 December 2024. To evaluate the quality of the included studies, the risk of bias was assessed using the RevMan 5.4 tool.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>A total of 11 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published over 10\u202fyears were included, involving 880 critically ill adult patients: 435 in the experimental group and 445 in the control group. The meta-analysis showed that, compared to the control group, virtual reality technology significantly improved the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score (MD\u202f=\u202f3.95, 95% CI: 3.19, 4.70, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.05), the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score (MD\u202f=\u202f0.21, 95% CI: \u22121.35, 1.76, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> &amp;gt;\u202f0.05), the Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) score (MD\u202f=\u202f0.72, 95% CI: 0.49, 0.94, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.05), the upper limb motor function (Fugl-Meyer Assessment, FMA) score (MD\u202f=\u202f5.08, 95% CI: 3.46, 6.69, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.05), and the lower limb motor function (Fugl-Meyer Assessment FMA) score (MD\u202f=\u202f2.83, 95% CI: 1.99, 3.67, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.05) of the adult critically ill patients.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>Compared to traditional rehabilitation techniques, virtual reality technology has a better overall effect in improving motor rehabilitation in critically ill patients and enhancing balance, functional walking, and upper and lower limb motor functions. However, the effect of enhancing the functional independence of limbs is not yet evident and still needs to be confirmed by high-quality, multicenter, and large-sample clinical trials.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Systematic review registration<\/jats:title><jats:p><jats:uri>https:\/\/www.crd.york.ac.uk\/PROSPERO\/<\/jats:uri> Prospero register No.: CRD42024546409.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fneur.2024.1469079","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,5]],"date-time":"2025-02-05T16:23:31Z","timestamp":1738772611000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":9,"title":["Effects of virtual reality technology on early mobility in critically ill adult patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Yansha","family":"He","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Qin","family":"Yang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xiaoxia","family":"Dai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tian","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Huan","family":"Wu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kunjie","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shiqiong","family":"Zhu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yanlin","family":"Liu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hua","family":"Lei","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","first-page":"325","article-title":"A review on virtual reality","volume":"9","author":"Halarnkar","year":"2012","journal-title":"Int J Comput Sci Iss"},{"key":"ref2","volume-title":"The 13th five-year plan for National Scientific and technological innovation","author":"Fa","year":"2016"},{"key":"ref3","volume-title":"Guiding opinions on accelerating the development of the virtual reality industry","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref4","year":"2023"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"171","DOI":"10.1007\/s00134-016-4612-0","article-title":"The effects of active mobilisation and rehabilitation in ICU on mortality and function: a systematic review","volume":"43","author":"Tipping","year":"2017","journal-title":"Intensive Care Med"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0223151","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0223151","article-title":"What is the optimum time for initiation of early mobilization in mechanically ventilated patients? A network meta-analysis","volume":"14","author":"Ding","year":"2019","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1574","DOI":"10.3969\/j.issn.16721756.2021.10.028","article-title":"Research progress on influencing factors of early activity in ICU patients","volume":"21","author":"Peng","year":"2021","journal-title":"Chin Nurs Manag"},{"key":"ref8","volume-title":"Analysis of early activity status and influencing factors of ICU patients","author":"Yang","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"127","DOI":"10.3969\/j.issn.1001-1242.2018.02.001","article-title":"Critical care rehabilitation, which should be synchronized with clinical care","volume":"33","author":"Yan","year":"2018","journal-title":"Chin J Rehabil Med"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1457","DOI":"10.1097\/ccm.0000000000003298","article-title":"Methodologic innovation in creating clinical practice guidelines: insights from the 2018 Society of Critical Care Medicine pain, agitation\/sedation, delirium, immobility, and sleep disruption guideline effort","volume":"46","author":"Devlin","year":"2018","journal-title":"Crit Care Med"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2188","DOI":"10.12102\/j.issn.1009-6493.2024.12.022","article-title":"Research progress on the application of virtual reality technology in post ICU syndrome of critically ill patients","volume":"38","author":"Gu","year":"2024","journal-title":"Chin Nurs Res"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"93","DOI":"10.1016\/j.hrtlng.2024.11.014","article-title":"Enhancing patient experience in the surgical ICU through virtual reality: a pre-post mixed-methods study","volume":"70","author":"Ju","year":"2024","journal-title":"Heart Lung"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"326","DOI":"10.1186\/s13054-022-04202-x","article-title":"Virtual and augmented reality in critical care medicine: the patient's, clinician's, and researcher's perspective","volume":"26","author":"Bruno","year":"2022","journal-title":"Crit Care"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1051","DOI":"10.3760\/cma.j.cn112147-20230823-00103","article-title":"Intelligent rehabilitation platform in intensive care unit","volume":"46","author":"Wang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Zhonghua Jie He He Hu Xi Za Zhi"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3311","DOI":"10.1093\/eurheartj\/ehad352","article-title":"Merging virtual and physical experiences: extended realities in cardiovascular medicine","volume":"44","author":"Tsai","year":"2023","journal-title":"Eur Heart J"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"171","DOI":"10.3969\/j.issn.1672-1756.2020.02.005","article-title":"Design and acceptance evaluation of early exercise virtual reality rehabilitation system for respiratory ICU patients","volume":"20","author":"Wang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Chin Nurs Manag"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"456","DOI":"10.5935\/0103-507x.20190078","article-title":"Rehabilitation through virtual reality: physical activity of patients admitted to the intensive care unit","volume":"31","author":"Gomes","year":"2019","journal-title":"Rev Bras Ter Inten"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"949","DOI":"10.1016\/j.aucc.2024.06.004","article-title":"Feasibility and safety of interactive virtual reality upper limb rehabilitation in patients with prolonged critical illness","volume":"37","author":"Haghedooren","year":"2024","journal-title":"Aust Crit Care"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2413","DOI":"10.1212\/wnl.0000000000004744","article-title":"Virtual reality training for upper extremity in subacute stroke (VIRTUES): a multicenter RCT","volume":"89","author":"Brunner","year":"2017","journal-title":"Neurology"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e19136","DOI":"10.1097\/md.0000000000019136","article-title":"Effects of early virtual reality-based rehabilitation in patients with total knee arthroplasty: a randomized controlled trial","volume":"99","author":"Gianola","year":"2020","journal-title":"Medicine"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"333","DOI":"10.1080\/10749357.2016.1139796","article-title":"Efficacy of a virtual reality commercial gaming device in upper limb recovery after stroke: a randomized, Controlled Study","volume":"23","author":"Kong","year":"2016","journal-title":"Top Stroke Rehabil"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1019","DOI":"10.1016\/s1474-4422(16)30121-1","article-title":"Efficacy and safety of non-immersive virtual reality exercising in stroke rehabilitation (EVREST): a randomised, multicentre, single-blind, controlled trial","volume":"15","author":"Saposnik","year":"2016","journal-title":"Lancet Neurol"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"12","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm12072612","article-title":"The role of technological rehabilitation in patients with intensive care unit weakness: a randomized controlled pilot study","volume":"12","author":"Castelli","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Clin Med"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3790","DOI":"10.12102\/j.issn.10096493.2023.20.034","article-title":"Application of virtual reality technology in early rehabilitation training for patients after liver transplantation","volume":"37","author":"Zhu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Chin Nurs Res"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"48","DOI":"10.3969\/j.issn.2096501X.2023.01.013","article-title":"The rehabilitation effect of interactive somatosensory games on motor and balance function in stroke patients","volume":"6","author":"Li","year":"2023","journal-title":"Med High Vocat Educ Modern Nurs"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.3969\/j.issn.1674-3245.2023.01.009","article-title":"Analysis of the effect of somatosensory interactive game rehabilitation training on improving balance dysfunction in stroke patients","volume":"25","author":"Du","year":"2023","journal-title":"Chin J Health Med"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"86","DOI":"10.20047\/j.issn1673-7210.2021.14.042","article-title":"Application of multidisciplinary combined virtual reality training in strengthening rehabilitation nursing for critically ill patients with multiple fractures","volume":"11","author":"Mo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Chin Med Herald"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5362","DOI":"10.3969\/j.issn.1004437X.2021.28.058","article-title":"The application effect of cognitive behavioral intervention combined with virtual reality training in postoperative patients with severe traumatic brain injury","volume":"30","author":"Zeng","year":"2021","journal-title":"Henan Med Res"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"303","DOI":"10.1089\/g4h.2016.0109","article-title":"The effect of a virtual reality game intervention on balance for patients with stroke: a randomized controlled trial","volume":"6","author":"Lee","year":"2017","journal-title":"Games Health J"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.3969\/j.issn.1001-568X.2024.07.0028","article-title":"Research progress on the application of virtual reality technology in early activity of ICU patients in hospitals","volume":"38","author":"Wang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Chin Prim Health Care"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"86","DOI":"10.1186\/s40635-023-00571-x","article-title":"Robotic-assisted early mobilization and virtual reality: a perspective on innovative support strategies for critically ill patients","volume":"11","author":"Parco","year":"2023","journal-title":"Intensive Care Med Exp"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"81","DOI":"10.1186\/s13613-017-0303-4","article-title":"Feasibility and safety of virtual-reality-based early neurocognitive stimulation in critically ill patients","volume":"7","author":"Turon","year":"2017","journal-title":"Ann Intensive Care"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13228","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-017-13153-1","article-title":"Visuo-acoustic stimulation that helps you to relax: a virtual reality setup for patients in the intensive care unit","volume":"7","author":"Gerber","year":"2017","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"35","DOI":"10.3969\/j.issn.20971826.2023.08.009","article-title":"Overview of the scope of application of virtual reality systems in critically ill patients","volume":"40","author":"Li","year":"2023","journal-title":"Milit Nurs"},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"506","DOI":"10.3761\/j.issn.2096-7446.2023.06.005","article-title":"Overview of the application scope of virtual reality Technology in Adult ICU patients","volume":"4","author":"Dong","year":"2023","journal-title":"Chin J Emerg Crit Care Nurs"},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1706","DOI":"10.3969\/j.issn.1672-1756.2022.11.021","article-title":"Systematic evaluation of the intervention effect of virtual reality technology on ICU post syndrome in critically ill patients","volume":"22","author":"Ma","year":"2022","journal-title":"Chin Nurs Manag"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"416","DOI":"10.16821\/j.cnki.hsjx.2022.05.008","article-title":"Research progress on the application of virtual reality technology in critically ill patients","volume":"37","author":"Shen","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Nurs Train"},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1255","DOI":"10.3761\/j.issn.02541769.2021.08.022","article-title":"Application progress of virtual reality technology in critically ill patients in ICU","volume":"56","author":"Yi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Chin J Nurs"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"248","DOI":"10.5935\/0103-507x.20190038","article-title":"Early mobilization protocols for critically ill pediatric patients: systematic review","volume":"31","author":"Piva","year":"2019","journal-title":"Rev Bras Ter Intensiva"},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"81","DOI":"10.1186\/s13613-023-01176-z","article-title":"Virtual and augmented reality in intensive care medicine: a systematic review","volume":"13","author":"Kanschik","year":"2023","journal-title":"Ann Intensive Care"},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e073660","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2023-073660","article-title":"Effects of virtual reality for psychological health of ICU patients: a study protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"13","author":"Zou","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1017","DOI":"10.1212\/wnl.0000000000005603","article-title":"Advantages of virtual reality in the rehabilitation of balance and gait systematic review","volume":"90","author":"Porras","year":"2018","journal-title":"Neurology"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Neurology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fneur.2024.1469079\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,5]],"date-time":"2025-02-05T16:23:48Z","timestamp":1738772628000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fneur.2024.1469079\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,5]]},"references-count":42,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fneur.2024.1469079"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fneur.2024.1469079","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-2295"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-2295","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,5]]},"article-number":"1469079"}}