Virtual Reality Games in the Rehabilitation of Cancer Patients: Systematic Literature Review

• Autor(a) principal: Vitor, Matheus Renyer Queiroz
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Outros Autores: Araújo, Amanda Souza, Alves, Camille Maria de Holanda Angelim, Castro, Juliana Ramiro Luna, Farias, Vanessa Ximenes
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por; eng; spa
• Título da fonte: Revista Brasileira de Cancerologia (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://rbc.inca.gov.br/index.php/revista/article/view/3166
• topic: reabilitação; realidade virtual; modalidades de fisioterapia; neoplasias; rehabilitation; virtual reality; physical therapy modalities; neoplasms; rehabilitación; realidad virtual; modalidades de fisioterapia; neoplasias

Introduction: Physiotherapy is beneficial for the rehabilitation of cancer patients. However, as this is a monotonous activity for many patients, it has been losing its space to new techniques such as gametherapy, which uses virtual reality videogames as a rehabilitative and preventive instrument. Objective: To investigate the effects of gametherapy on cancer patients. Method: Systematic literature review following the PRISMA guide. The search for articles was performed in PubMed, LILACS, MEDLINE and PEDro databases, using the descriptors neoplasm, cancer, virtual reality rehabilitation and physiotherapy. Controlled clinical trials and prospective studies published in Portuguese, English or Spanish were eligible in the last 12 years (July 2010 to July 2022). Results: There were 94 studies identified, and nine were included in the final sample. Of the selected clinical trials, five used Nintendo Wii, two used Xbox and one used virtual reality glasses. The studies showed that gametherapy reduced symptoms of anxiety, fatigue and depression, improved fine and gross motor skills, and reduced fear of moving. However, it was not as effective as traditional therapy in decreasing chronic pain. Conclusion: Gametherapy has positive effects on health-related variables in cancer patients, standing out the decrease in cancer-related fatigue. In addition, it favors a reduction in the length of stay of hospitalized patients and increases patient adherence to treatment.