Inovação tecnológica na fisioterapia: a realidade virtual como ferramenta na reabilitação do equilíbrio em pessoas idosas com doença de Parkinson

Abstract

Technological innovation has had a significant impact on physical therapy, especially with the growing use of virtual reality as a therapeutic resource. Parkinson's disease, characterized by progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, causes significant motor changes, such as tremors, rigidity, and slowness of movement. Among the main consequences is impaired postural balance, increasing the risk of falls and limiting the individual's functional capacity. This study aimed to analyze the use of virtual reality as an innovative technology in balance rehabilitation in elderly people with Parkinson's disease. This is an integrative literature review with a qualitative approach, basic in nature and exploratory in character. The databases used were the National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), and Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO). Articles published between 2019 and 2025, in Portuguese and English, available in full and free of charge, were included. After screening and reading in full, seven studies met the inclusion criteria and comprised the final sample of the review. The studies analyzed showed that virtual reality-based interventions promote improvements in static and dynamic balance, gait, postural self-confidence, and reduced risk of falls in elderly individuals with Parkinson's disease. Protocols that integrated virtual reality with conventional physical therapy or that had higher session frequency and duration demonstrated more significant effects. Despite the relevance of the findings, there is a scarcity of research exploring the long-term effects of VR in different clinical contexts, highlighting gaps in the literature. This review found that virtual reality, applied alone or integrated with conventional physical therapy, stands out as an effective tool for balance rehabilitation in older adults with Parkinson's disease, promoting improvements in postural stability, gait, and functional capacity.