Virtual Reality and Fear of Falling in Parkinson's Disease

NCT ID: NCT05931692

Last Updated: 2024-04-26

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Total Enrollment

15 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-07-17

Study Completion Date

2026-01-31

Brief Summary

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Background: Falls are common in elderly individuals and those with neurological conditions like Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease causes postural instability and mobility issues that lead to falls and reduced quality of life. The fear of falling (FoF), a natural response to unstable balance, can exacerbate postural control problems. However, evaluating FoF relies primarily on subjective self-reports due to a lack of objective assessment methods.

Objectives: This mixed-methods feasibility study aims to develop an objective method for assessing fear of falling during motion and walking using virtual reality. This protocol examines a range of FoF-related responses, including cognitive, neuromuscular, and postural stability factors.

Methods: Individuals without and with Parkinson's disease will complete questionnaires, movement tasks, and walking assessments in real and virtual environments where FoF can be elicited using virtual reality (VR) technology. Data from center-of-pressure measurements, electromyography, heart rate monitoring, motion capture, and usability metrics will evaluate the method's acceptability and safety. Semi-structured interviews will gather participants' and researchers' experiences of the protocol.

Discussion: This method may allow accurate assessment of how FoF impacts movement by measuring cognitive, neuromuscular, and postural responses during gait and motion. Virtual environments reproduce real-life scenarios that trigger FoF. Rigorously assessing FoF with this approach could demonstrate its ability to quantify the effects of FoF on movement.

Conclusions: This protocol aims to improve FoF assessment by evaluating multiple responses during movement in virtual environments. It addresses current measures' limitations. A feasibility study will identify areas for improvement specific to Parkinson's disease. Successful validation could transform how FoF is evaluated and managed.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Parkinson Parkinson Disease Parkinson's Disease and Parkinsonism

Study Design

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Observational Model Type

OTHER

Study Time Perspective

CROSS_SECTIONAL

Study Groups

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Individuals without Parkinson's disease

People over 40 years old

Virtual reality

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Virtual environment that triggers fear of falling

Electroencephalogram

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Detect brain waves in response to fear of falling

Electromyography

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Measures muscle activity and response to fear of falling

Motion Capture system

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Measures postural and gait responses to fear of falling

Polar H10 Heart Sensor

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Heart rate monitor

Inertial measurement Unite

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Measure Postural sway

Parkinson Disease

People over 40 years old who have Parkinson's Disease at stage I to III Hoehn and Yahr scale

Virtual reality

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Virtual environment that triggers fear of falling

Electroencephalogram

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Detect brain waves in response to fear of falling

Electromyography

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Measures muscle activity and response to fear of falling

Motion Capture system

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Measures postural and gait responses to fear of falling

Polar H10 Heart Sensor

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Heart rate monitor

Inertial measurement Unite

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Measure Postural sway

Interventions

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Virtual reality

Virtual environment that triggers fear of falling

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Electroencephalogram

Detect brain waves in response to fear of falling

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Electromyography

Measures muscle activity and response to fear of falling

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Motion Capture system

Measures postural and gait responses to fear of falling

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Polar H10 Heart Sensor

Heart rate monitor

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Inertial measurement Unite

Measure Postural sway

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* People ≥ 40 years old.
* Participants diagnosed with Parkinson's disease by a neurologist, regardless the type.
* Modified Hoehn and Yahr stages I to III.
* Able to follow instructions and understand questions.
* Able to walk independently and without walking aids.
* People who experience excessive fear of falling and fear of movement.
* Able to communicate verbally.
* Stable use of Parkinson's Disease or other comorbidities medications.

Exclusion Criteria

* Impaired vision and hearing.
* Unstable medical condition.
* Co-existing neurological or orthopedic conditions that may limit mobility and affect participation.
* Dizziness, vertigo, headache, and motion-sickness.
* Cognition impairments.
* Pregnancy.
Minimum Eligible Age

40 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Ain Shams University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Ahram Canadian University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Yasmine Gomaa

Lecturer of Physcial Therapy for Neuromuscular Disorders

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Yasmine S Gomaa, Ph.d

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Kafrelsheikh University

Locations

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Human Mechatronics Lab, Ain Shams Virtual Hospital, Ain Shams University

Cairo, , Egypt

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Egypt

Central Contacts

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Yasmine S Gomaa, Ph.d

Role: CONTACT

+201001590520

Mohamed I Awad, Ph.d

Role: CONTACT

+201123222146

Facility Contacts

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Mohamed I Awad, Ph.d

Role: primary

+201123222146

References

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Gomaa YS, Awad MI, Emara T, Elbokl A, Al-Yahya E, ElMeligie MM. Role of virtual reality in examining the effect of fear of falling (FOF) on postural stability in individuals without and with Parkinson's disease in Egypt: a mixed-methods feasibility study protocol. BMJ Open. 2024 May 1;14(5):e080592. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080592.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 38692713 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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P.T/ NEUR /3/2023/46

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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