This Study Explores How Short-term Immersive VR With Exercises and Ergonomic Training Can Reduce Neck Pain, Improve Movement, Strength, and Work Productivity in Computer Users Who Are at High Risk Due to Prolonged Screen Time and Poor Posture.

NCT ID: NCT06962982

Last Updated: 2025-05-08

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 30 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-04-01
• Study Completion Date: 2025-06-30

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a short-term immersive Virtual Reality (VR) intervention, combined with exercises and ergonomic training, can help treat neck pain in computer users. It will also explore how safe and effective this approach is. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does immersive VR with exercise and ergonomic training reduce neck pain and disability?

Does it improve cervical range of motion, neck muscle endurance, and work productivity?

Researchers will compare the effects before and after the intervention to see how well it works for managing neck pain in computer users.

Participants will:

Use immersive VR exercises and receive ergonomic training over a short period

Attend assessment sessions to measure pain, movement, endurance, and work productivity

Follow specific guidelines for posture and workplace adjustments during the study

Conditions

Neck Pain; Neck Disability; Neck Endurance; Work Productivity; Cervical Range of Motion

Study Design

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

Study Groups

Group A - Therapeutic exercises and Ergonomic training.

An initial ergonomic assessment of all the participants' workstation will be done using the Computer Workstation Self-Assessment Checklist to identify potential risk factors for neck pain and dysfunction. Numeric pain rating values, Neck muscle endurance, cervical range of motion, neck disability index and work productivity score will be measured and recorded for each participant.

This group will receive therapeutic exercises including stretching and active exercises. Recommendations for adjustments to the chair, desk, and equipment layout would also be given to optimize comfort and efficiency and reduce neck pain due to improper workstation design. The session will last for 15 minutes. Follow up 2 days in a week over the 3-week period will be done to make necessary adjustments, and reinforce the ergonomic principles. All outcome measure will be attained again at the end of the 3 week period.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Therapeutic Exercises

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Therapeutic exercises including stretching and active exercises for neck and shoulder.

Ergonomic Training

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Recommendations for adjustments to the chair, desk, and equipment to optimize comfort and efficiency and reduce unnecessary stress and loading on neck muscles.

Group B: Therapeutic exercises Ergonomic Training, and Immersive VR therapy.

An initial ergonomic assessment of all the participants' workstation will be done using the Computer Workstation Self-Assessment Checklist to identify potential risk factors for neck pain and dysfunction. Numeric pain rating values, Neck muscle endurance, cervical range of motion, neck disability index and work productivity score will be measured and recorded for each participant.

The participants of this group will be given all the trainings as Group A along with the addition of immersive VR. This task will be delivered through the Human XR device Oculus Quest 3. The VR module will involve participants to engage in targeted cervical movements (flexion, extension, rotation) to attain therapeutic objectives through visual cues. Group B will be given VR therapy for an additional 20 minutes. Follow up 2 days in a week over the 3-week period will be done for the participant to use the immersive VR mode. All outcome measure will be attained again at the end of the 3 week period.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Therapeutic Exercises

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Therapeutic exercises including stretching and active exercises for neck and shoulder.

Ergonomic Training

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Recommendations for adjustments to the chair, desk, and equipment to optimize comfort and efficiency and reduce unnecessary stress and loading on neck muscles.

Human XR device - Oculus Quest 3

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Meta Quest 3 is a standalone virtual reality headset by Meta Platforms featuring a slimmer design, higher-resolution dual LCD displays, improved performance with the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip, and advanced mixed reality capabilities through color passthrough cameras and a depth sensor.

Interventions

Therapeutic Exercises

Therapeutic exercises including stretching and active exercises for neck and shoulder.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Ergonomic Training

Recommendations for adjustments to the chair, desk, and equipment to optimize comfort and efficiency and reduce unnecessary stress and loading on neck muscles.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Human XR device - Oculus Quest 3

Meta Quest 3 is a standalone virtual reality headset by Meta Platforms featuring a slimmer design, higher-resolution dual LCD displays, improved performance with the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip, and advanced mixed reality capabilities through color passthrough cameras and a depth sensor.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Computer users of age 18 to 50 years old with history of more than 6 hours of screen time. (9)

2. Complaints of neck pain.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Individuals having complains of vertigo

2. Radiating pain

3. Balance issues

4. Motion sickness

5. Recent cervical fractures/dislocations or whiplash injuries

6. Complaints of photosensitivity

7. Complaints of frequent headaches

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 60 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Gulf Medical University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

Thumbay Medicity, Al Jurf, Ajman

Ajman, , United Arab Emirates

Countries

United Arab Emirates

Other Identifiers

IRB-COHS-STD-9-Jan-2025

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id