A realidade virtual na função motora de crianças com paralisia cerebral

Abstract

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a common non-progressive disorder that occurs during the development of the central nervous system. It is characterized by impaired gross motor function, posture, manual dexterity, and communication, and is associated with musculoskeletal changes. Virtual reality has recently been explored as an intervention to improve motor function in children with CP. The objective of this study is to describe the effects of virtual reality on the motor function of children with cerebral palsy. This narrative review of the literature was conducted in the Publisher Medline (PubMed) database. Randomized clinical trials, systematic reviews, and a case study published in the last 14 years were included. The following keywords were used in the search strategies: “cerebral palsy,” “virtual reality,” and “gross motor function.” Studies investigating the effects of virtual reality (VR) on the rehabilitation of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy were selected. The main outcomes assessed were gross and fine motor function, balance, mobility, muscle strength, activities of daily living, and gait parameters. The studies demonstrated that virtual reality, used alone or in combination with conventional therapies, promoted significant improvement in gross motor function.