SynthesisFrontiers in rehabilitation sciences2026
Virtual reality in autism and physical therapy: a meta-analytical review of clinical outcomes and therapeutic efficacy.
Synthesis in Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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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.
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.
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Who cites it
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Virtual reality (VR) technology has emerged as a transformative therapeutic innovation in healthcare, providing immersive three-dimensional, multisensory environments that facilitate experiential learning, rehabilitation, and engagement. While numerous studies highlight its benefits, empirical research on VR-based interventions for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and physical therapy (PT) remains limited by methodological inconsistencies, small sample sizes, and variable intervention designs. These limitations constrain the generalizability of findings and delay VR integration into standard therapeutic practice. Objective: This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the therapeutic effectiveness of VR interventions within ASD and PT contexts. It aimed to determine the extent of improvement achieved through VR-based therapies, identify methodological and practical challenges affecting clinical adoption, and classify the dominant types and features of VR interventions applied across both domains. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a comprehensive search was performed across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies published between 2020 and 2025. Eligible peer-reviewed articles provided empirical evidence on VR interventions for autistic individuals or patients undergoing physical rehabilitation. Twenty-three studies meeting inclusion criteria underwent methodological quality assessment and systematic data extraction. Quantitative synthesis used standardized effect size calculations (Hedges' g) and subgroup analyses to evaluate intervention outcomes and contextual moderators. Results: The meta-analysis showed a significant positive impact of VR interventions across both domains (Hedges' g = 0.66, Conclusion: VR is an effective adjunctive therapy that enhances motivation, engagement, and adherence. Despite barriers of cost, training, and protocol variability, its scalability and adaptability support broad clinical use. AI-driven personalization, mobile VR, and tele-rehabilitation offer promising future directions. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution given the median sample size of 45, moderate heterogeneity (I
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