Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39886859›Full record

SynthesisJournal of rehabilitation medicine2025

Effectiveness and adverse effects of immersive technologies used for rehabilitation of patients with non-specific neck pain: a systematic review.

Joanna S Kostka, Agnieszka Zawadzka-Fabijan, Dariusz Działa, Bogumiła Bruc, Magdalena Pruszyńska, Gabriela Figas, Rory J O'Connor, Antti Malmivaara, Jolanta E Kujawa

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of rehabilitation medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Joanna S KostkaDepartment of Gerontology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland. joanna.kostka@umed.lodz.pl.ORCID 0000-0002-6256-1669
Agnieszka Zawadzka-FabijanClinic of Medical Rehabilitation, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.ORCID 0000-0002-4031-0930
Dariusz DziałaClinic of Medical Rehabilitation, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.ORCID 0000-0001-7832-2753
Bogumiła BrucInformation and Library Center, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
Magdalena PruszyńskaDepartment of Internal Medicine, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.ORCID 0000-0003-1353-3829
Gabriela FigasClinic of Medical Rehabilitation, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.ORCID 0000-0001-5522-6128
Rory J O'ConnorAcademic Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK; National Demonstration Centre in Rehabilitation, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-4643-9794
Antti MalmivaaraNational Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland; Orton Orthopaedic Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Jolanta E KujawaClinic of Medical Rehabilitation, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.ORCID 0000-0003-1309-2728

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of immersive technologies in the rehabilitation of patients with non-specific neck pain and identify any potential side effects associated with their use.

designSystematic review. SUBJECTS/PATIENTS: Individuals with non-specific neck pain.

methodsA systematic literature search of randomized controlled trials was conducted using Medline (PubMed), Embase (Ovid), Scopus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, WHO, Pedro, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Risk of bias was assessed with Cochrane Risk of Bias tool.

resultsFive studies with a total of 203 participants (129 women, 74 men) were included in the review. In most studies, both the virtual reality (VR) and control groups demonstrated improvement in pain, functioning related to neck pain, and range of motion. Two cases found the virtual reality group to demonstrate greater improvements in pain and range of motion (for some movements), but not in function. The studies analysed lack much information regarding the applicability of VR therapy.

conclusionThe data are promising and suggest that VR therapy may have benefits in the rehabilitation of patients with non-specific neck pain. Data on the safety of therapy and adverse events are insufficient to draw any conclusions.

Indexed as

Neck PainVirtual RealityVirtual Reality Exposure TherapyFemaleHumansMaleRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicRange of Motion, ArticularTreatment Outcome

Identifiers

PMID39886859
PMCPMC11811534

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.