SynthesisFrontiers in neurology2026
Effects of virtual reality and gamified digital rehabilitation on functional recovery in individuals with Spinal Cord Injury: a systematic review and Bayesian multilevel meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Frontiers in neurology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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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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Authors and funding
8 authors.
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Abstract
Background: Virtual reality (VR) and gamified digital rehabilitation can increase task-specific practice and feedback for individuals with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI); however, their incremental effects on functional recovery remain uncertain. Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from database inception through July 1, 2026, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating VR or gamified digital rehabilitation in adults with SCI. Comparator conditions were classified as active rehabilitation, sham or attention control, or minimal/no intervention. The primary outcome was the Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM). Hedges' Results: Thirteen RCTs involving 295 participants were included; comparator conditions were active rehabilitation in ten trials, sham or attention control in two, and no intervention in one. Seven studies contributed 25 eligible SCIM effect estimates. The pooled posterior mean effect favored digital rehabilitation but was small and imprecisely estimated (Hedges' Conclusion: VR and gamified digital rehabilitation may provide small functional benefits relative to the comparator conditions used in the included trials; however, clinically important and reproducible improvements have not been demonstrated. Current evidence is insufficient to prioritize specific technology types, patient subgroups, intervention durations, or weekly training doses. Systematic review registration: CRD420261458807; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261458807.
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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.