Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41088437›Full record

ArticleBMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation2025

Comparing the effects of virtual reality and traditional balance training on trunk control, sitting balance, and activities of daily living in patients with stroke: a randomized controlled trial.

Ting He, Mengjie Zhang, Xinpeng Chen, Yijie Lian, Ziyun Zhang, Wenxin Niu

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing 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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
  3. Article
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

6 authors.

Ting He *Shanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital（Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), School of Medicine,Tongji University, No. 2209 Guangxing Road, Songjiang District, Shanghai, China.
Mengjie Zhang *Shanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital（Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), School of Medicine,Tongji University, No. 2209 Guangxing Road, Songjiang District, Shanghai, China.
Xinpeng ChenShanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital（Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), School of Medicine,Tongji University, No. 2209 Guangxing Road, Songjiang District, Shanghai, China.
Yijie LianShanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital（Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), School of Medicine,Tongji University, No. 2209 Guangxing Road, Songjiang District, Shanghai, China.
Ziyun ZhangShanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital（Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), School of Medicine,Tongji University, No. 2209 Guangxing Road, Songjiang District, Shanghai, China.
Wenxin NiuShanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital（Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), School of Medicine,Tongji University, No. 2209 Guangxing Road, Songjiang District, Shanghai, China. niu@tongji.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1349-4524

Funding

National clinical key specialty construction project of China Z155080000004National Natural Science Foundation of China 82305358Shanghai Research Center of Rehabilitation Medicine (Top Priority Research Center of Shanghai) 2023ZZ02027Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital Clinical Research Program YNPP-2024CRTS010/YJKYQN202006Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital Youth Talent Project 2022QNRC14/2023QNRC15Songjiang Scientific and Technological Project 2023SJKJGG81
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundStroke survivors frequently experience impaired trunk control, affecting sitting balance and daily activities. Virtual reality (VR) balance training presents an engaging alternative to conventional methods, though its comparative effectiveness remains uncertain. PURPOSE: To compare the effects of VR-based versus traditional balance training on trunk control, sitting balance, and ADL in stroke patients.

methodsThirty-six participants were randomly assigned to either VR-based training or conventional sitting balance training group. Both groups completed a 4-week intervention. Outcome measures including the Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), and Center of Pressure (COP) parameters under static/dynamic sitting conditions were assessed at baseline and post-intervention.

resultsBoth groups showed significant time effects in trunk control (TIS total score, p < 0.001), with the VR group demonstrating greater improvement (d = 1.72 vs. 1.07). A significant time×group interaction was found for dynamic balance (TIS-dynamic, p = 0.013) and dynamic mediolateral displacement (p = 0.016), indicating VR training produced superior gains. While both groups improved in activities of daily living (MBI, p < 0.001), no significant time×group interaction was observed. Only the VR group showed significant improvement in static anterior-posterior displacement (p = 0.039), with no time×group effects found for sway velocity or static mediolateral displacement.

conclusionWhile both interventions similarly improved trunk control, sitting balance, and ADL, VR-based training demonstrated superior efficacy in enhancing lateral trunk control during dynamic tasks, suggesting its potential advantage for facilitating dynamic postural adjustments in stroke rehabilitation.

trial registrationhttps://www.chictr.org.cn (No. ChiCTR2500100936); Registration date: 4-17-2025 (retrospectively registered).

Indexed as

Center of pressureSitting balanceStrokeTrunk controlVirtual reality

Identifiers

PMID41088437
PMCPMC12523091

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.