Table 1 Characteristics of the articles included in the systematic review

TREML, 2012 [15]

N = 32

CG = 16

(67.63 years old)EG = 16

(66.88 years old)

Healthy Elderly

Balance, mobility, flexibility and number of falls.

CG: proprioceptive training EG: proprioceptive training and Wii Fit Plus Games.

Duration: 2 times a week, 10 sessions of 30 min.

POMA: p = 0.018

Unipedal support: p = 0.018

Anterior functional range: p = 0.012

Lateral functional range: p = 0.012

Berg Balance Scale: p = 0.068

VRT has been shown to be more efficient at conventional proprioceptive training in mobility, static balance and range.

RENDON, 2012 [8]

N = 40

CG = 20

(83.3 years old)

EG = 20

(85.7 years old)

Elderly with risk of falls

Dynamic balance

CG: no intervention

EG: stationary bicycle warm up and Wii Fit games.

Duration: 3 times a week, 18 sessions of 35–45 min.

Balance confidence scale: p = 0.04

Authors reported improved dynamic balance, greater postural stability in the elderly and reduced risk of falls.

YEN, 2011 [18]

N = 42

CG = 14

(71.6 years old)

GTC = 14

(70.1 years old)

EG = 14

(70.4 years old)

Elderly with Parkinson’s balance

CG: no intervention

CTG: stretching and conventional balance training protocol

EG: stretching, VRT balance board and games.

Duration: 2 times per week, 12 sessions of 30 min.

Computerized posturography: p > 0.05

Both CTG and EG improved sensory integration for postural control. However, the demand for attention to postural control did not change after any VR or conventional treatment.

MUSSATO, 2012 [9]

N = 10

CG = 5

(65.6 years old)

EG = 5

(66 years old)

Healthy Elderly

Balance and functional capacity

CG: no intervention

EG: training with Nintendo Wii Fit accompanied by Balance Board and games.

Duration: once a week, 10 sessions of 30 min.

Stabilometric platform variables after training with Wii Fit: p > 0.05

Unipedal support: p = 0.01

TUG: p = 0.004 (comparison between the pre- and post-intervention results of the EG)

TUG: p = 0.704 (comparison between EG and CG)

The results did not show changes in stabilometric variables after treatment with Wii Fit. There was a significant difference between the pre- and post-intervention for the experimental group for both the Unipedal Support test and the TUG, but there was no statistical difference when compared with the control group.

LEE, 2013 [10]

N = 55

CG = 28

(74.29 years old)

EG = 27

(73.78 years old)

Diabetes Mellitus

Balance and gait

CG: health education guidelines on diabetes

EG: virtual reality and games. Duration: 2 times per week, 20 sessions of 50 min.

Unipedal support: p = 0.001

Gait cadence speed: p = 0.001

Falls efficacy scale: p = 0.002

After the training, the intervention group showed improvement in balance, decreased sitting and standing time, increased gait cadence and perceived falls.

SZTURM, 2011 [16]

N = 27

CG = 14

(81 years old)

EG = 13

(80.5 years old)

Deficit of balance and mobility

Balance and gait

CG: conventional physiotherapy program for strengthening and balance sitting and standing.

EG: rehabilitation with exercises of dynamic balance associated to games.

Duration: 2 times per week, 16 sessions of 45 min

Berg Balance Scale: p < 0.001

Balance Confidence Scale: p < 0.02

Timed Up and Go: p < 0.01

Gait speed: p = 0.20

Improvement of the dynamic standing balance control (EG) compared with the conventional exercise program (CG). However, there was no statistically significant effect on gait.

BIERYLA, 2013 [17]

N = 10

CG = 5

(80.5 years old)

EG = 5

(82.5 years old)

Healthy Elderly

balance

CG: no intervention

EG: series of exercises and activities with games

Duration: 3 times per week, 9 sessions of 30 min

Berg Balance Scale: p = 0.037

Fullerton Advanced Balance Scale: p = 0.529

Functional Reach Test: p = 0.779

Timed Up and Go: p = 0.174

Better balance results, with delayed effect for 1 month post-intervention on the Berg Balance Scale. No effects on the Advanced Balance Scale, range tests or TUG.

LAI, 2013 [20]

N = 30

CG = 15

(74.8 years old)

EG = 15

(70.6 years old)

Healthy Elderly

Balance

CG: no intervention

EG: VR therapy in the Xavix Measured Step System (XMSS)

Duration: 3 times per week, 18 sessions of 30 min.

Berg Balance Scale: p = 0.001

Timed Up and Go: p = 0.046

Modified Falls Efficacy Scale: p = 0.001

Bipedal balance test on force platform:

Eyes open: p = 0.052

Eyes closed: p = 0.092

Improved balance after 6 weeks of training; effects persisted partially after 6 weeks without intervention.

FRANCO, 2012 [14]

N = 32

CG = 10

(76.9 years old)

GTP = 11

(77.9 years old)

EG = 11

(79.8 years old)

Healthy Elderly

Balance

WFG: Guidance for balance and flexibility home exercises and intervention in Nintendo Wii Fit with games.

MOB: group exercise sessions.

CG: no intervention

Duration: GTP: 2 times per week, 6 sessions of 10–15 min active play

EG: 2 times per week, 6 sessions of 30–45 min

Berg’s Balance Scale: p = 0.837

Tinetti’s Balance Scale: p = 0.913

Quality of Life (SF-36): p = 0.058

No significant increase in balance in any outcome measures.

TOULOTTE, 2012 [19]

N = 36

G1 = 9

84.2 years old)

G2 = 9

(72.2 years old)

G3 = 9

(76.4 years old)

G4 = 9

(71.8 years old)

Healthy Elderly

Balance

G1: Physical activities - strengthening exercises, proprioception, flexibility and static and dynamic balance.

G2: Training with Wii Fit - Games.

G3: Physical activities associated with Wii Fit training.

G4: control group - watched television and board games

Duration: once a week, 20 sessions of 60 min.

Tinetti scale: p < 0.05 for G1, G2 and G3

Unipedal support: p < 0.05 for G1 and G3.

Modified position of center of gravity: p < 0.05 for G2 and G3.

Improvement in static balance.

G1 and G3 improved dynamic balance.