Exergames for rehabilitation in stroke survivors: Umbrella review of meta-analyses.

Background: It is essential to explore alternative methods to motivate stroke survivors throughout their lengthy rehabilitation journey. Exergames have emerged as promising tools for rehabilitating this demographic.

Objective: We aimed to synthesize the combined evidence from meta-analyses that assessed the effects of exergames in the rehabilitation of stroke survivors.

Methods: The umbrella review was conducted utilizing several databases, including MEDLINE® (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online), CINAHL® (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), the Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, SPORTDiscus®, and Scopus®. It included studies published until December 2023 without any restrictions based on publication date.

Results: The analysis included 11 meta-analyses involving approximately 9,615 patients, reflecting a growing adoption of exergames in post-stroke rehabilitation since 2015, focusing on using Nintendo Wii. The analyzed studies varied widely in intervention duration (from 1 to 16 weeks) and were applied across different phases of post-stroke rehabilitation, from the acute to the chronic phase. Significant improvements were observed in balance and upper limb functionality, although there was notable methodological heterogeneity and variability in the results.

Conclusions: This study highlights the value of exergames in the rehabilitation of stroke survivors and recommends future research that adopts rigorous methodological designs with clearly specified intervention stages. It underscores the importance of additional qualitative studies to explore the perspectives of patients and healthcare professionals regarding exergames, aiming to refine rehabilitation strategies and enhance the clinical benefits achieved.