Cariati Ida, Bonanni Roberto, Cifelli Pierangelo, D'Arcangelo Giovanna, Padua Elvira, Annino Giuseppe, Tancredi Virginia
Department of Systems Medicine, "Tor Vergata" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
Front Sports Act Living. 2025 Apr 29;7:1497161. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2025.1497161. eCollection 2025.
Our systematic literature review aimed to select randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in which virtual reality (VR) has been used in athletes or players to evaluate the effectiveness of this technology in gaining performance.
In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, a systematic literature search was conducted in the MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science databases using the keyword set [(Virtual reality) OR (VR)] AND [(Athletes) OR (Players)] AND [(Performance) OR (Balance)]. Peer-reviewed articles published within the last ten years in English and open access were included. The methodological quality of the articles was assessed using the Jadad scale, while the eligibility criteria were evaluated using the PICOS approach.
Specifically, six RCTs were selected, one of which scored 5/5 on the Jadad scale, four scored 3/5 and one scored 2/5. Importantly, five RCTs found a positive influence of VR on performance in terms of balance, stability, sprinting, jumping, neurocognitive function, reaction time and technical skills, while only one RCT found no difference in these parameters.
In conclusion, the results included in our systematic review showed that VR seems to have a positive effect in improving sports performance. However, the heterogeneity of the studies did not allow for a comparison of the data to clarify the relevance of VR technology in performance, suggesting the need for in-depth investigations to confirm its efficacy in sports.
我们的系统文献综述旨在筛选出将虚拟现实（VR）应用于运动员或选手以评估该技术对提高运动表现有效性的随机对照试验（RCT）。
根据PRISMA指南，在MEDLINE、Scopus和Web of Science数据库中使用关键词组[（虚拟现实）或（VR）] AND [（运动员）或（选手）] AND [（运动表现）或（平衡）]进行系统文献检索。纳入过去十年内发表的英文同行评审且开放获取的文章。使用Jadad量表评估文章的方法学质量，同时使用PICOS方法评估纳入标准。
具体而言，筛选出六项随机对照试验，其中一项在Jadad量表上得分为5/5，四项得分为3/5，一项得分为2/5。重要的是，五项随机对照试验发现VR对平衡、稳定性、短跑、跳跃、神经认知功能、反应时间和技术技能等方面的运动表现有积极影响，而只有一项随机对照试验发现这些参数没有差异。
总之，我们系统综述中的结果表明，VR似乎对提高运动表现有积极作用。然而，研究的异质性使得无法对数据进行比较以阐明VR技术在运动表现中的相关性，这表明需要进行深入研究以证实其在体育领域的有效性。
