Study	Reason for exclusion
Broeren 2008	Study design: not a RCT
Cameirao 2012	Compares different types of virtual reality
Cho 2013	Does not meet the definition of virtual reality (no real 'interaction' between the person and the virtual environment)
Chortis 2008	Study design: not a RCT
Cikaljo 2012	Study design: not a RCT
Der‐Yeghiaian 2009	Study design: not a RCT
Edmans 2009	Study design: not a RCT
Fischer 2007	Compares different types of virtual reality
Fritz 2013	Not considered to be properly randomised or quasi‐randomised
Gnajaraj 2007	Does not meet the definition of a virtual reality intervention
In 2012	Does not meet the definition of a virtual reality intervention
Katz 2005	Study design: not all participants were randomised
Kim 2012a	Does not meet the definition of a virtual reality intervention
Krebs 2008	Study design: participants were not randomly allocated to groups
Manlapaz 2010	Unable to confirm whether this study meets the inclusion criteria. Insufficient information provided in conference abstract and no response received from author upon contact
Shin 2010	Study design: participants were not randomly allocated to groups
Song 2010	Unable to obtain further information to confirm inclusion criteria or obtain basic study data

RCT: randomised controlled trial