The Effectiveness of Virtual Reality-Based Rehabilitation Versus Conventional Methods in Enhancing Functional Outcomes for Post-Operative Lower Limb Patients: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: After surgery, physical therapy is thought to be crucial for getting the best results. A growing number of people believe that virtual reality (VR) could be a useful tool for providing medical interventions. The impact of VR-based rehabilitation on results after lower limb surgeries is examined in this systematic analysis. Objectives: Evaluating the effectiveness of virtual reality and related technologies in postoperative lower limb rehabilitation using a systematic study. Design: systematic review of relevant literature (PROSPERO ID: CRD42024605158). Methods: The databases PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, PEDro, and Google Scholar were used to search for the literature. To identify papers that satisfied the inclusion criteria, titles, abstracts, and then the full texts were screened. The methodological qualities of the studies were evaluated using the 11-point PEDro scale. Risk of Bias evaluation was performed through the Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool in Cochrane review tools. Results: Twenty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. Combined results showed that virtual reality (VR) and game-based interventions appear to be effective and safe adjuncts to traditional rehabilitation for lower limb surgeries, improving outcomes such as pain relief, proprioception, balance, and motivation, though their superiority over standard rehabilitation alone remains inconsistent and warrants further research. Conclusion: VR and game-based rehabilitation enhance traditional therapy for knee and hip surgeries, but further research is needed to confirm long-term benefits and effectiveness.