Extended Reality Interventions for Osteoarthritis of the Knee and Recovery After Total Knee Arthroplasty: Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses.
Caleb Kalinowski, Elizabeth Goldsmith, Maylen Anthony et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated extended reality (XR) interventions for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) pain and recovery after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The review included 21 studies, revealing that interactive digital rehabilitation (IDR) may improve pain-related functioning and reduce pain intensity in KOA, with a pooled standardized mean difference of -0.59. For post-TKA recovery, IDR showed potential benefits, but evidence for pain reduction was less conclusive.
Key findings
- IDR for KOA may improve pain-related functioning with a pooled SMD of -0.59.
- IDR may lower pain intensity at 6-8 weeks in KOA with a pooled SMD of -0.46.
- VR-psychoeducation probably results in lower pain at 4 weeks post-TKA.
- IDR was not associated with adverse events in KOA treatment.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that XR interventions, particularly IDR, could enhance nonpharmacologic treatment strategies for patients with KOA and those recovering from TKA, potentially improving patient outcomes and quality of life.