Combining robot‑assisted therapy with virtual reality or using it alone? A systematic review on health‑related quality of life in neurological patients

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 2023 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-023-02097-y · Published: January 1, 2023

Participation Assistive Technology Neurorehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study reviews the use of robot-assisted therapy (RAT) and virtual reality (VR) in neurorehabilitation to improve the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with neurological diseases. The review looks at studies that evaluate RAT alone or combined with VR for conditions like stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, and Parkinson’s Disease. The goal is to understand how these therapies affect patients' perceived physical and mental well-being, considering their real-life environments and overall health.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

2956 neurological patients

Evidence Level

Systematic Review

Key Findings

1
Most studies showed that RAT and RAT combined with VR had significant positive effects on patients' HRQoL.
2
Significant improvements were mainly observed within groups of patients with neurological conditions, with fewer studies showing significant differences between groups, primarily in stroke patients.
3
Longitudinal studies found significant long-term effects mainly in stroke or multiple sclerosis patients.

Research Summary

This systematic review examined the impact of robot-assisted therapy (RAT) and RAT combined with virtual reality (VR) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with neurological diseases, synthesizing data from 70 studies. The review found that both RAT and RAT plus VR often led to significant improvements in HRQoL, especially when disease-specific measures were used, with stroke patients showing the most consistent between-group benefits. The study highlights the need for more targeted research on specific HRQoL components and neurological populations, using defined intervention procedures and disease-specific assessment methodologies to better understand the long-term impacts.

Practical Implications

Clinical Practice

Encourages clinicians to consider RAT and VR as potentially effective interventions for improving HRQoL in neurological patients, especially stroke patients.

Future Research

Highlights the need for more rigorous, longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes to validate the benefits and understand the long-term impacts of RAT and VR on HRQoL.

Assessment Methodology

Suggests using disease-specific HRQoL measures to better capture the nuances of patient-perceived improvements, as generic measures may not be as sensitive.

Study Limitations

1
Heterogeneity among the included studies in terms of design, participants, intervention, and HRQoL measures.
2
Limited number of studies combining RAT with VR, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about the added value of VR.
3
Lack of studies involving certain neurological populations (e.g., PD) in the context of RAT plus VR interventions.

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