Objective: To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) simulations in enhancing balance recovery among older adults through statistical modeling.

Background: Age-related declines in balance control significantly increase fall risk, leading to severe health consequences and reduced independence. Virtual reality (VR) simulations have emerged as a promising intervention, offering immersive and adaptive environments for balance training. However, evidence on their efficacy remains inconsistent, necessitating a systematic review employing statistical modeling to quantify their impact.

Method: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and IEEE Xplore up to March 2024. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies assessing VR-based balance training in older adults (>60 years) compared to traditional rehabilitation. Extracted data included intervention duration, VR system type, balance performance metrics, and fall incidence rates. A meta-analysis was performed using mixed-effects modeling to estimate pooled effect sizes and assess heterogeneity.

Results: A total of 30 studies (n = 1,250 participants) met inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis revealed that VR-based balance training significantly improved postural stability (Hedges’ g = 0.85, p < 0.001) and reduced fall incidence by 29% compared to conventional therapy. Subgroup analysis indicated that exergaming-based VR platforms yielded the most significant improvements (Hedges’ g = 0.91), while multi-sensory VR environments enhanced dynamic balance by 23%. However, high variability in VR program duration and task complexity limited standardization.

Conclusion: VR simulations are an effective tool for balance recovery in older adults, demonstrating superior improvements in postural stability and fall prevention compared to traditional rehabilitation. Despite promising results, further research is needed to optimize VR training protocols and assess long-term retention effects. Personalized VR interventions incorporating real-time feedback and adaptive difficulty levels may enhance rehabilitation outcomes in aging populations.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/evaluating-the-efficacy-of-virtual-reality-simulations-in-enhancing-balance-recovery-among-older-adults-a-systematic-review-using-statistical-modeling/