Dai Yushen, Li Jiaying, Li Yan, Wong Frances Kam Yuet, Li Mengqi, Li Chen, Jia Ye, Wang Yueying, Yorke Janelle
School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 11 Yuk Choi Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 11 Yuk Choi Road, Humg Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
NPJ Digit Med. 2025 Apr 23;8(1):217. doi: 10.1038/s41746-025-01609-y.
Virtual walking has the potential to be an adjunct to traditional physical therapy. This scoping review aims to synthesize evidence on the characteristics, effectiveness, feasibility, and neurological mechanism of virtual walking interventions on health-related outcomes. Articles in English were retrieved from twelve databases (January 2014-October 2024). Thirteen interventional studies were included, focusing on three types of virtual walking: passive observing moving (71.4%), arm swing locomotion (21.5%), and foot tracking locomotion (7.1%). Most studies (84.6%) involved individuals with spinal cord injuries, while the remaining studies focused on lower back pain (7.7%) and lower limb pain (7.7%). Over 70% of studies lasted 11-20 min, 1-5 weekly sessions for 10-14 days. Statistically significant findings included pain reduction (84.6%), improved physical function (mobility and muscle strength), and reduced depression. Mild adverse effects (fatigue and dizziness) were transient. Neurological evidence indicates somatosensory cortex activation during virtual walking, possibly linked to neuropathic pain.
虚拟步行有可能成为传统物理治疗的辅助手段。本综述旨在综合关于虚拟步行干预对健康相关结局的特征、有效性、可行性和神经机制的证据。从12个数据库中检索了2014年1月至2024年10月期间的英文文章。纳入了13项干预性研究，重点关注三种类型的虚拟步行：被动观察移动（71.4%）、摆臂运动（21.5%）和足部跟踪运动（7.1%）。大多数研究（84.6%）涉及脊髓损伤患者，其余研究则关注下背痛（7.7%）和下肢疼痛（7.7%）。超过70%的研究持续11 - 20分钟，每周1 - 5次，共进行10 - 14天。具有统计学意义的结果包括疼痛减轻（84.6%）、身体功能改善（移动性和肌肉力量）以及抑郁减轻。轻微的不良反应（疲劳和头晕）是短暂的。神经学证据表明在虚拟步行过程中体感皮层被激活，这可能与神经性疼痛有关。
