Exploring Virtual Reality Adventure Training Exergaming

NCT ID: NCT05563805

Last Updated: 2025-10-29

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 40 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2022-09-07
• Study Completion Date: 2026-12-31

Brief Summary

The current project aims to design and implement an 8-week Virtual Reality Adventure Therapy Exergaming (V-RATE) intervention focused on women veterans. A randomized controlled trial using a repeated measure design with a 1-month follow-up assessment will be employed to examine effects on physical and mental health outcomes.

Detailed Description

The current project aims to design and implement an 8-week Virtual Reality Adventure Therapy Exergaming (V-RATE) intervention focused on veterans. A randomized controlled trial using a repeated measure design with a 1-month follow-up assessment will be employed. The project addresses two specific aims:

Aim 1. To examine the effects of an 8-week V-RATE intervention on physical health (i.e., BMI, physical activity, sedentary behavior) among veterans. We hypothesize that after controlling for socio-demographic variables and physical activity history, individuals in the V-RATE group would exhibit more improvement in the physical health indicators after the intervention compared to individuals in the control group. We further hypothesize gains would be maintained or enhanced at 1-month follow-up measure.

Aim 2. To examine the effects of an 8-week V-RATE intervention on mental health outcomes (i.e., depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, cognitive function, health-related quality of life), among veterans. We hypothesize that after controlling for socio-demographic variables and physical activity history, individuals in the V-RATE group will exhibit more improvement in the mental health indicators after the intervention compared to individuals in the control group. We further hypothesize gains maintained or enhanced at 1-month follow-up measure.

Conditions

Physical Activity; Sedentary Behavior; Depression; Cognitive Function; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; Quality of Life; Anxiety

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NON_RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Intervention

intervention participants will engage in a 30-minutes VR adventure games on a non-mobilized treadmill (5-min warm-up, 20-minutes treadmill, and 5-min cool-down) for a total of 6 sessions over 6-8 weeks. Participants in the V-RATE group will be instructed to self-pace walking/running on the treadmill while they are fully immersed in the VR games for two 10-minute bouts with a complete rest interval (heart rate reduces to normal range). Participants will complete measures at baseline, post-training, and one-month follow-up.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Virtual Reality-based physical activity intervention

Intervention Type: DEVICE

The V-RATE intervention will be delivered through a 360-degree non-mobilized treadmill in a university clinical laboratory for 6-8-weeks (1-2 days/week, 30 minutes/session) totaling 6 sessions. The V-RATE program will be focused on creating a safe and immersive environment supportive of physical activity. The treadmill enables an individual can walk and run at self-paced speed, moving in 360-degrees (i.e., forwards, sideways, and backwards) without risk of falling. The core feature of the self-paced treadmill is a concave walking platform with an adjustable waist hardness that enables a safe, smooth, natural gait while adults with elevated BMI engage in an immersive walking and running motion. During the V-RATE intervention, participants will self-pace their locomotor action (walking/running/bending/ jumping) while they wear the VR headset and experience immersive VR adventure games using the Omniverse VR system.

Control

Control participants will not receive the intervention. Participants will complete measures at baseline, post-training, and one-month follow-up.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Virtual Reality-based physical activity intervention

The V-RATE intervention will be delivered through a 360-degree non-mobilized treadmill in a university clinical laboratory for 6-8-weeks (1-2 days/week, 30 minutes/session) totaling 6 sessions. The V-RATE program will be focused on creating a safe and immersive environment supportive of physical activity. The treadmill enables an individual can walk and run at self-paced speed, moving in 360-degrees (i.e., forwards, sideways, and backwards) without risk of falling. The core feature of the self-paced treadmill is a concave walking platform with an adjustable waist hardness that enables a safe, smooth, natural gait while adults with elevated BMI engage in an immersive walking and running motion. During the V-RATE intervention, participants will self-pace their locomotor action (walking/running/bending/ jumping) while they wear the VR headset and experience immersive VR adventure games using the Omniverse VR system.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Are between the ages of 18 and 45

2. Identify as a U.S. military veteran

4. Normal vision (no colorblindness)

Exclusion Criteria

1. Unable to walk independently (e.g., use of any mobility assistive device such as brace, wheelchair, cane, crutch, walker, knee scooter)

2. Self-reported joint problem that limits mobility (e.g., arthritis or other condition that would prevent participation) or ongoing orthopedic injury

3. Self-reported pregnancy or suspicion of pregnancy

4. Self-reported motor disorder or impaired sense of motion or balance (such as Parkinsonism)

5. Self-reported color blindness

6. Self-reported neurological or cognitive disorder (e.g., TBI, history of seizure)

7. Self-reported cardiac surgery or any ongoing cardiovascular issues preventing participation or physical activity.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 45 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

The University of Texas at Arlington

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Donna L. Schuman

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

University of Texas at Arlington

Arlington, Texas, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Donna L Schuman, PhD

Role: CONTACT

donna.schuman@uta.edu

18172723181

Xiangli Gu, PhD

Role: CONTACT

xiangli.gu@uta.edu

817-818-2106

Facility Contacts

Donna L Schuman, PhD

Role: primary

donna.schuman@uta.edu

817-272-3181

Xiangli L Gu, PhD

Role: backup

donna.schuman@uta.edu

817-818-2106

Other Identifiers

UTexasArlington

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id