Abstract: Objective: To explore the effects of virtual reality on balance function and gross motor function in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Methods: From June 2018 to September 2019, a total of 48 children with cerebral palsy from 6 to 11 years old in a tertiary grade A hospital were divided into the experimental group and the control group by random number table, with 24 patients in each group. The control group was treated with routine rehabilitation, including occupational therapy and neurodevelopmental therapy; the experimental group was treated with virtual reality training on the basis of conventional rehabilitation therapy with 3 months. The balance function and gross motor function in two groups were compared. Results: Before the intervention, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the Berg Balance Scale score (P>0.05) and the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 score (P>0.05). After the intervention, the scores of Berg Balance Scale and Gross Motor Function Measure-88 of intervention group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Virtual reality technology can improve the balance function and gross motor function of children with cerebral palsy.

Key words: virtual reality technology; cerebral palsy; balance function; gross motor function