A aplicabilidade da realidade virtual com videogames comerciais no tratamento fisioterapêutico de crianças com paralisia cerebral

Abstract

Chronic non-progressive encephalopathy, ou cerebral palsy (CP), is a group of permanente movement and posture disorders, caused by non-progressive brain lesions occurring during fetal or childhood development. In addition to motor limitations, CP can include sensory, cognitive and behavioral disorders. Multidisciplinary treatment, including physiotherapy, using ludic mechanisms such as video games and virtual reality (VR), can improve the quality of life and functional abilities of affected children. Objective: to highlight the effects of the applicability of virtual reality with commercial video games as a physiotherapeutic resource in the treatment of children diagnosed with CP. Methodology: this is a study that used the descriptive integrative review method, whose data collection was carried out in the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System online (MEDLINE) and Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS), via Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde (BVS), using the descriptors "Virtual Reality"(DeCS), "Virtual Reality Exposed Therapy" (DeCS), "Electronic Movement Games" (DeCS), and "Cerebral Palsy" (DeCS). Were included articles published between 2013 and 2023, in Portugueses and/or English, related to patients with cerebral palsy, of both genders, children (0 to 12 years old), using virtual reality, through commercial video games, such as part of the Physiotherapy treatment. For data analysis, information such as: title, authorship, type of study, publication, year, sample, resource, parameters objectives and main results was captured, Results: 05 scientific articles were included. The following findings occurred: varied technological and VR resources, playfulness and fun are elements of adherence to treatment; many repetitions favor motor learning; need for preserved cognition for the application of technique and gain functionality. Conclusion:There are results that demonstrate that the use of commercial video games with VR in the physical therapy treatment of children with CP brings progress related to balance, gait, muscle strength and cognitive and social functions. However, there is limited evidence, and it is necessary to carry out more studies, with a larger and more comprehensive sample, using the most advanced devices, to further prove their effectiveness and understand the real effects, evaluate the cost-benefit and monitor technological developments of the area.