Background: Neurodegenerative diseases cause both progressive motor and cognitive impairments for which no curative treatments exist. Virtual reality (VR)-based rehabilitation has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance physical rehabilitation by offering immersive, engaging, and personalized environments. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines, examining studies published between 2020 and 2025 in the Web of Science and Scopus. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria, focusing on VR-based physical rehabilitation in individuals with neurodegenerative diseases. Results: Most studies reported significant improvements in balance, gait, postural control, and motor function. Some studies also found benefits in processing speed, executive function, emotional well-being, and activities of daily living. Across different levels of immersion, VR interventions showed high usability and were well tolerated, even among older adults. However, methodological limitations, such as small sample sizes, a lack of control groups, and short intervention durations, were prevalent. Conclusions: VR has demonstrated to be an effective and well-tolerated tool for the rehabilitation of individuals with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. However, the confirmation of its clinical efficacy and long-term impact necessitates the execution of randomized controlled trials with larger samples and extended follow-up periods.
Solares et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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