Pain Rehabilitation Virtual Reality (PRVR): Innovations to Enhance Mobility in the Presence of Pain

NCT ID: NCT04636177

Last Updated: 2025-11-14

Study Results

Results available

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

34 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-03-10

Study Completion Date

2024-12-07

Brief Summary

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The proposed research is a single arm feasibility trial of pain rehabilitation virtual reality (PRVR) aimed at measuring feasibility, acceptability and utility of VR as well as changes in physical function and fear for adolescents with chronic musculoskeletal pain. The intervention includes standard physiotherapy treatment including functional goal setting and progressive exercise.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Chronic Pain Musculoskeletal Pain Fibromyalgia Virtual Reality

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Pain Rehabilitation Virtual Reality (PRVR)

Participants will complete VR in PT to engage participants in a series of immersive games customized to align with individual PT needs delivered over \~6-12 weeks or until clinician believes the patient is done with treatment. Patients in the PRVR arm will be given a structured HEP to practice prescribed exercises at home with integrated VR activities. PRVR participants will be allocated a VR headset for use in PT sessions and with HEP. VR will supplement treatment and be used in session (either in-person or telehealth) and at home as part of their prescribed treatment homework.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Pain Rehabilitation Virtual Reality (PRVR)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive approximately 8, 1-hour physiotherapy sessions delivered over the course of 6-12 weeks. Adequate dose: 75% (6 of 8 sessions).

Standard Physiotherapy Rehabilitation (SPR)

Sessions are individually-tailored and based on the Guide to Physical Therapy Practice 3.0 consisting of 1) therapeutic exercise, 2) balance and proprioception, 3) strength training, and 4) use of modalities (e.g., heat/cold pack). Patients will be given a structured Home Exercise Program (HEP) with prescribed exercises for home. SPR participants will be allocated a VR headset for recreational use.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Standard Physiotherapy Rehabilitation (SPR)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants allocated to either intervention arm will receive 8, 1-hour physiotherapy sessions delivered over the course of 6-8 weeks. Adequate dose: 75% (6 of 8 sessions).

Interventions

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Pain Rehabilitation Virtual Reality (PRVR)

Participants will receive approximately 8, 1-hour physiotherapy sessions delivered over the course of 6-12 weeks. Adequate dose: 75% (6 of 8 sessions).

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Standard Physiotherapy Rehabilitation (SPR)

Participants allocated to either intervention arm will receive 8, 1-hour physiotherapy sessions delivered over the course of 6-8 weeks. Adequate dose: 75% (6 of 8 sessions).

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* 10 to 17 years old
* Musculoskeletal pain (e.g. localized \[back, limb\], diffuse) not due to acute trauma (e.g. active sprain or fracture)
* English Language Proficiency

Exclusion Criteria

* Significant cognitive impairment (e.g., brain injury)
* Significant medical or psychiatric problem that would interfere (e.g. psychosis, suicidality)
* Presents with a condition that interferes with virtual reality usage (e.g., history of seizure, facial injury precluding safe placement of headset, visual impairment, significant hearing impairment impact ability to follow audio instructions).
Minimum Eligible Age

10 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

17 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Stanford University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Laura E Simons

Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Laura Simons, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Stanford School of Medicine

Locations

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Pediatric Pain Management Clinic - Stanford Children's Health

Menlo Park, California, United States

Site Status

California Rehabilitation and Sports Therapy

Palo Alto, California, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Simons LE, Hess CW, Choate ES, Van Orden AR, Tremblay-McGaw AG, Menendez M, Boothroyd DB, Parvathinathan G, Griffin A, Caruso TJ, Stinson J, Weisman A, Liu T, Koeppen K. Virtual Reality-Augmented Physiotherapy for Chronic Pain in Youth: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial Enhanced With a Single-Case Experimental Design. JMIR Res Protoc. 2022 Dec 12;11(12):e40705. doi: 10.2196/40705.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 36508251 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

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R21AR079140

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

68669

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id