Abstract
PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of 6 exercise therapies on the quality of life of stroke patients. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, the Web of Science, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library to retrieve peer-reviewed articles written in English. The inclusion criteria consisted of (1) experimental or quasi-experimental studies, (2) utilization of different exercise therapies as experimental interventions, (3) inclusion of stroke patients as the target population, and (4) assessment of quality of life as an outcome measure. RESULTS: The analysis included 25 studies involving 1243 subjects aged 18 years or older. The network meta-analysis revealed that among the 6 exercise therapies examined, Virtual Reality Training (82.3%) had the most significant impact on improving the quality of life in stroke patients. This was followed by Resistance Training (77.3%), Mind-Body Training (61%), Underwater Exercise (52%), Aerobic Exercise Training (44.1%), and High-Intensity Interval Training (19.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Virtual reality training was found to be highly effective in improving the quality of life in stroke patients. In addition, when combined with other exercise therapies, it enhanced physical function and overall quality of life.