IMPACT OF PHYSICAL THERAPY TREATMENT IN CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME USING VIRTUAL REALITY

Abstract

This study presents a systematic literature review on the use of Virtual Reality (VR) in the physiotherapeutic treatment of children with Down Syndrome (DS). The research explores how VR can be an innovative tool to overcome the challenges of engagement and adherence to treatment, often observed in conventional therapies. The main objective is to evaluate the impact of VR on motor development and quality of life of these children. The methodology employed included the analysis of recent publications in electronic databases, focusing on studies involving children with DS aged 3 to 18 years. The selection criteria prioritized research addressing the use of VR in physiotherapeutic treatment and evaluating its impact on motor development, balance, and muscle strength. The review results indicate that VR offers a motivating experience, favoring engagement in Physiotherapy sessions. Efficacy was observed in stimulating mental, sensory, and neuromusculoskeletal functions, with adaptations to facilitate the understanding of games and concepts worked on. Improvements were notable in areas such as balance, global motor skills, and spatial organization. The review highlights the significant potential of VR as a complementary tool in the physiotherapeutic treatment of children with DS. The combination of VR with traditional Physiotherapy emerges as a promising approach, optimizing treatment and addressing various needs of these children. This study emphasizes the importance of future research with larger samples and long-term evaluations to more robustly establish the effectiveness of VR in this context.