title: Walking training associated with virtual reality-based training increases walking speed of individuals with chronic stroke: systematic review with meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To systematically review the available evidence on the efficacy of walking training associated with virtual reality-based training in patients with stroke. The specific questions were: Is walking training associated with virtual reality-based training effective in increasing walking speed after stroke? Is this type of intervention more effective in increasing walking speed, than non-virtual reality-based walking interventions?
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials was conducted. Participants were adults with chronic stroke and the experimental intervention was walking training associated with virtual reality-based training to increase walking speed. The outcome data regarding walking speed were extracted from the eligible trials and were combined using a meta-analysis approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven trials representing eight comparisons were included in this systematic review. Overall, the virtual reality-based training increased walking speed by 0.17 m/s (IC 95% 0.08 to 0.26), compared with placebo/nothing or non-walking interventions. In addition, the virtual reality-based training increased walking speed by 0.15 m/s (IC 95% 0.05 to 0.24), compared with non-virtual reality walking interventions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review provided evidence that walking training associated with virtual reality-based training was effective in increasing walking speed after stroke, and resulted in better results than non-virtual reality interventions.
authors.affiliation: Rede Sarah de Hospitais de Reabilitação, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rodrigues-Baroni
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney (NSW), Australia.
authors.forename: Lucas R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney (NSW), Australia.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ada
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luci F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Teixeira-Salmela
mesh_terms: D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D063367:Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy; D016138:Walking; D000072797:Walking Speed