Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41298970›Full record

ReviewJournal of cancer survivorship : research and practice2025

Effectiveness of virtual reality-based exercise rehabilitation for enhancing functional outcomes and quality of life in adult cancer survivors: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Manar Eid, Haytham Alkerdasy, Amina Hilmy, Abdelrahman Sameh, Amal Ashraf

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Manar EidFaculty of Physical Therapy, Benha University, Benha, Egypt. Manareid126@gmail.com.
Haytham AlkerdasyFaculty of Physical Therapy, Benha University, Benha, Egypt.
Amina HilmyFaculty of Physical Therapy, Benha University, Benha, Egypt.
Abdelrahman SamehFaculty of Physical Therapy, Benha University, Benha, Egypt.
Amal AshrafFaculty of Physical Therapy, Benha University, Benha, Egypt.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis systematic review aims to synthesize randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effectiveness and safety of virtual reality-based exercise rehabilitation (VRER) in adult cancer survivors.

methodsFollowing PRISMA 2020, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched up to November 2024. Only RCTs of VR-based exercise in adult patients with cancer were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane ROB2 tool. Outcomes were narratively synthesized across strength/range of motion, functional status, quality of life, physical performance, and adverse events.

resultsEight RCTs involving 359 participants with breast, prostate, brain, or combined cancer types were included. VRER increased shoulder mobility and reduced fear of movement compared with usual care. Functional status, specifically activities of daily living, showed consistent improvement. Physical performance including better balance, endurance, and activity level improved. Three trials reported quality-of-life advantages, mainly in physical and vitality domains, though heterogeneity of measures limited comparison. Safety was good with only mild, transient symptoms and no serious adverse events.

conclusionsVRER has promising effects on mobility, daily function, physical performance, and quality of life in cancer survivors, with strong adherence and safety. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: VR-based exercise is an effective, safe adjunct to conventional rehabilitation. By improving mobility, adherence, and well-being, it offers benefits and can be integrated into survivorship care.

Indexed as

Cancer rehabilitationExercise therapyQuality of lifeSurvivorshipVirtual reality

Identifiers

PMID41298970

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.