REALIDADE VIRTUAL COMO RECURSO FISIOTERAPÊUTICO NA REDUÇÃO DO RISCO DE QUEDAS EM IDOSOS: REVISÃO INTEGRATIVA DE LITERATURA
REALIDADE VIRTUAL COMO RECURSO FISIOTERAPÊUTICO NA REDUÇÃO DO RISCO DE QUEDAS EM IDOSOS: REVISÃO INTEGRATIVA DE LITERATURA
-
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.82082926200512
-
Palavras-chave: Realidade virtual. Idosos. Quedas. Equilíbrio. Fisioterapia.
-
Keywords: Virtual reality. Older adults. Falls. Balance. Physiotherapy.
-
Abstract: Abstract: Introduction: The accelerated aging of the population makes falls among older adults a growing public health problem, responsible for thousands of hospitalizations and deaths annually in Brazil. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising physiotherapeutic resource for fall prevention, as it stimulates balance, gait, and muscle strength in an engaging and safe manner. Objective: To analyze the scientific evidence on the effectiveness of virtual reality as a physiotherapeutic resource in reducing the risk of falls in older adults. Methodology: An integrative literature review was conducted in the BVS, PubMed, and SciELO databases, with searches carried out between March and April 2026. Descriptors in Portuguese and English were used, with a time frame from 2016 to 2026. Of the 701 studies identified, eight composed the final sample after applying the eligibility criteria. Results: The included studies used both immersive VR technologies, such as Oculus Quest 2 and HTC Vive Pro, and non-immersive ones, such as Xbox Kinect, Nintendo Wii, and exergame systems. Protocols ranged from four to sixteen weeks, with a predominant frequency of three sessions per week. Six of the eight studies demonstrated significant improvements in balance, gait, muscle strength, and reduction of fear of falling. No study reported adverse effects. Discussion: The effectiveness of VR depended on the quality of the motor stimulus provided, individualized progression, and professional supervision. The absence of physical gains in one of the studies showed that technology alone does not guarantee results without an adequate protocol. Immersive VR demonstrated results comparable to the Otago Program, the gold standard in fall prevention. Conclusion: Virtual reality proved to be effective and safe in reducing the risk of falls in older adults when integrated into appropriate physiotherapeutic protocols, representing a viable and complementary alternative to conventional interventions.
- Aline Martins Petrakis
- Carina Fragoso
- Francisca Taís Carvalho do Nascimento
- Beatriz Jaccoud Ribeiro Fernandes