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Nilla Mayasari *1 
, Yose Waluyo1 , Irawan Yusuf2 , Sri Mardjiati Mei Wulan3 , Nadirah Rasyid Ridha4 , Andi Alfian Zainuddin5 , Firdaus Hamid6
, Yose Waluyo1 , Irawan Yusuf2 , Sri Mardjiati Mei Wulan3 , Nadirah Rasyid Ridha4 , Andi Alfian Zainuddin5 , Firdaus Hamid6
1- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Faculty of Medicine. Hasanuddin University. Makassar, Indonesia.
2- Department of Physiology. Faculty of Medicine. Hasanuddin University. Makassar, Indonesia.
3- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Faculty of Medicine. Airlangga University. Surabaya, Indonesia.
4- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University. Makassar, Indonesia.
5- Department of Public Health. Faculty of Medicine. Hasanuddin University. Makassar, Indonesia.
6- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
2- Department of Physiology. Faculty of Medicine. Hasanuddin University. Makassar, Indonesia.
3- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Faculty of Medicine. Airlangga University. Surabaya, Indonesia.
4- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University. Makassar, Indonesia.
5- Department of Public Health. Faculty of Medicine. Hasanuddin University. Makassar, Indonesia.
6- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
Abstract: (15 Views)
Purpose: Children with Down syndrome (DS) frequently have poor postural control, hypotonia, and ligamentous laxity, which impairs motor function and balance. Rehabilitation using virtual reality (VR) has become popular as an alternative to traditional therapy. The impact of VR-based therapies on motor function and balance in children with Down syndrome was assessed in this systematic review.
Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane Library (CENTRAL), and Scopus was conducted for randomized controlled trials and experimental interventional studies published between 2014 and 2024. Eligible studies involved children with DS receiving VR-based balance or motor training compared with conventional therapy or control conditions. Two reviewers independently conducted study screening, data extraction, and methodological quality assessment using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool. Due to clinical and methodological heterogeneity, meta-analysis was not performed.
Results: Seven interventional studies were included, comprising four randomized controlled trials, one quasi-experimental controlled study, one within-subject experimental study, and one experimental motor learning study comparing individuals with Down syndrome and typically developing controls. Most studies utilized non-immersive VR platforms such as Nintendo Wii–based systems and Xbox Kinect, while one study employed a head-mounted display system. Overall, VR-based interventions were associated with improvements in balance outcomes and selected motor measures. In several trials, the effects were comparable to those observed with conventional rehabilitation; however, the magnitude and consistency of effects varied across studies.
Conclusions: VR-based rehabilitation may be a promising and engaging adjunct for enhancing balance and motor function in children with Down syndrome. Although current evidence suggests it may be comparable to conventional therapy, further high-quality studies with standardized protocols are needed to establish optimal intervention parameters and long-term effects.
Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane Library (CENTRAL), and Scopus was conducted for randomized controlled trials and experimental interventional studies published between 2014 and 2024. Eligible studies involved children with DS receiving VR-based balance or motor training compared with conventional therapy or control conditions. Two reviewers independently conducted study screening, data extraction, and methodological quality assessment using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool. Due to clinical and methodological heterogeneity, meta-analysis was not performed.
Results: Seven interventional studies were included, comprising four randomized controlled trials, one quasi-experimental controlled study, one within-subject experimental study, and one experimental motor learning study comparing individuals with Down syndrome and typically developing controls. Most studies utilized non-immersive VR platforms such as Nintendo Wii–based systems and Xbox Kinect, while one study employed a head-mounted display system. Overall, VR-based interventions were associated with improvements in balance outcomes and selected motor measures. In several trials, the effects were comparable to those observed with conventional rehabilitation; however, the magnitude and consistency of effects varied across studies.
Conclusions: VR-based rehabilitation may be a promising and engaging adjunct for enhancing balance and motor function in children with Down syndrome. Although current evidence suggests it may be comparable to conventional therapy, further high-quality studies with standardized protocols are needed to establish optimal intervention parameters and long-term effects.
Keywords: Down syndrome, Virtual reality, Balance training, Motor function, Pediatric rehabilitation
Type of Study: Systematic Review |
Subject:
Physical Therapy
Received: 2025/12/25 | Accepted: 2026/04/21
Received: 2025/12/25 | Accepted: 2026/04/21
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