Realidade virtual como recurso terapêutico na reabilitação funcional de idosos: revisão de literatura

Aging compromises strength, balance and gait, and the limited adherence to conventional physical therapy programs motivates the search for technological resources capable of making the rehabilitation of older adults more motivating and effective. Objective: To analyze the use of virtual reality in the functional rehabilitation of older adults, highlighting its effects on functionality and its benefits and limitations in the context of physical therapy. Methodology: Descriptive, qualitative literature review, with searches in PubMed, PMC, SciELO, VHL, CAPES Portal, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, SAGE, MDPI, Wiley, Taylor & Francis, Frontiers, Oxford Academic and Google Scholar, in the first half of 2026, for full articles published between 2019 and 2026, in Portuguese or English, on virtual reality in the rehabilitation of people aged 60 years or older, excluding duplicates, abstracts, theses and studies with other populations. Results: Seven studies composed Table 1: two meta-analyses, one systematic review, three randomized clinical trials and one quasi-experimental study. Virtual reality consistently improved balance and reduced fall risk in frail and community-dwelling older adults, with gains in muscle strength in sarcopenic and institutionalized older adults and in gait speed and quality of life, whereas effects on global mobility and cognition were less uniform. Discussion: The findings converge regarding balance and diverge regarding mobility and strength, which is related to protocol heterogeneity, small samples and short follow-up. Adherence was favorable, with no dropouts or adverse events in the mixed-reality trial and mild adverse events in the other interventions, with gamification standing out as an engagement factor. Final considerations: Virtual reality proves to be a safe and motivating complement to conventional physical therapy in the functional rehabilitation of older adults. Larger trials with standardized outcomes, cost-effectiveness analysis and prolonged follow-up are needed.