https://doi.org/10.1177/0269215517694677 Clinical Rehabilitation 1–13 © The Author(s) 2017 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/0269215517694677 journals.sagepub.com/home/cre CLINICAL REHABILITATION Do virtual reality games improve mobility skills and balance measurements in community- dwelling older adults? Systematic review and meta-analysis Silvia GR Neri 1 , Jefferson R Cardoso 2 , Lorena Cruz 1 , Ricardo M Lima 1 , Ricardo J de Oliveira 1 , Maura D Iversen 3 and Rodrigo L Carregaro 4,5 Abstract Objective: To summarize evidence on the effectiveness of virtual reality games and conventional therapy or no-intervention for fall prevention in the elderly. Data sources: An electronic data search (last searched December 2016) was performed on 10 databases (Web of Science, EMBASE, PUBMED, CINAHL, LILACS, SPORTDiscus, Cochrane Library, Scopus, SciELO, PEDro) and retained only randomized controlled trials. Review method: Sample characteristics and intervention parameters were compared, focusing on clinical homogeneity of demographic characteristics, type/duration of interventions, outcomes (balance, reaction time, mobility, lower limb strength and fear of falling) and low risk of bias. Based on homogeneity, a meta-analysis was considered. Two independent reviewers assessed the risk of bias. Results: A total of 28 studies met the inclusion criteria and were appraised (n: 1121 elderly participants). We found that virtual reality games presented positive effects on balance and fear of falling compared with no-intervention. Virtual reality games were also superior to conventional interventions for balance improvements and fear of falling. The six studies included in the meta- analysis demonstrated that virtual reality games significantly improved mobility and balance after 3–6 and 8–12 weeks of intervention when compared with no-intervention. The risk of bias revealed that less than one-third of the studies correctly described the random sequence generation and allocation concealment procedures. 1 College of Physical Education, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil 2 Laboratory of Biomechanics and Clinical Epidemiology, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, PR, Brazil 3 Department of Physical Therapy, Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences, Northeastern University and Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA 4 School of Physical Therapy, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil 694677CRE 0 0 10.1177/0269215517694677Clinical RehabilitationNeri et al. research-article 2017 Original Article 5 Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil Corresponding author: Rodrigo Luiz Carregaro, School of Physical Therapy, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Campus UnB Ceilândia, Centro Metropolitano, Conjunto A, Lote 01, CEP 72220-900, Brasília. Email: rodrigocarregaro@unb.br