Patient-Specific 3D Action Observation Training in Parkinson's Disease

NCT ID: NCT07250672

Last Updated: 2025-11-26

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 24 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-12-15
• Study Completion Date: 2027-08-15

Brief Summary

Although studies exist demonstrating the effects of single-session action observation training on bradykinesia in patients with Parkinson's disease, research investigating the long-term application of such training remains limited. Furthermore, the broader literature indicates that action observation training has typically been conducted in simulated environments or by using recordings obtained from healthy individuals. The aim of the present study is to examine the effects of action observation training, delivered in a fully immersive virtual reality environment using each patient's own 3D motion recordings, on bradykinesia and other disease-related parameters.

Detailed Description

Action observation training has been applied across diverse populations to improve performance and treat pathological conditions. Considering that bradykinesia tends to manifest more prominently in rhythmic movements, studies in healthy individuals have shown that merely observing rhythmic actions can influence spontaneous finger movement speed and lead to changes in motor performance, thereby paving the way for the use of action observation in addressing bradykinesia. In a study investigating the effects of action observation in patients with Parkinson's disease, observing fast rhythmic finger movements was reported to increase spontaneous finger movement speed, and compared with acoustic training, the effect of action observation persisted longer over time. Research on imagery through action observation further indicates that immersive virtual reality headsets, compared to monitor screens, facilitate the development of more distinct spatial rhythmic patterns in the brain. This evidence supports the use of fully immersive VR headsets instead of non-immersive monitor-based systems in action observation training.

Conditions

Parkinson Disease; Virtual Reality; Action Obervation Training; Immersive Virtual Reality; 3d Recording

Study Design

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

Study Groups

Patient-Specific VR Group

Participants will undergo action observation training delivered in immersive virtual reality using their own 3D motion recordings.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Patient-Specific VR Action Observation Training

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants will receive immersive VR action observation training using their own 3D motion recordings captured with an Insta360 camera (Arashi Vision Inc., Shenzhen, China). In Parkinson's patients, only the initial movement sequences without bradykinetic slowing will be selected, and these will be extended to the desired duration using loop playback or ping-pong loop playback in the device's proprietary software. The action observation protocol will consist of the following one-minute tasks: (1) total finger abduction and adduction, (2) fist making and opening, (3) wrist flexion and extension, (4) forearm pronation and supination, and (5) rhythmic striking of the dorsal and palmar surfaces of one hand against the palm of the other. A 1-minute rest will be given between each video. Training will be provided in addition to conventional therapy (35 minutes, 3 days per week for 6 weeks) tailored to individual needs.

Healthy-Model VR Group

Participants will undergo action observation training delivered in immersive virtual reality using 3D recordings obtained from healthy individuals performing the same actions.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Healthy-Model VR Action Observation Training

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants will receive immersive VR action observation training using 3D video recordings of the same activities performed by healthy individuals, captured with an Insta360 camera (Arashi Vision Inc., Shenzhen, China). Recordings will not require editing or adjustments. The action observation protocol will consist of the same one-minute tasks: (1) total finger abduction and adduction, (2) fist making and opening, (3) wrist flexion and extension, (4) forearm pronation and supination, and (5) rhythmic striking of the dorsal and palmar surfaces of one hand against the palm of the other. A 1-minute rest will be given between each video. Training will be provided in addition to conventional therapy (35 minutes, 3 days per week for 6 weeks) tailored to individual needs.

Interventions

Patient-Specific VR Action Observation Training

Participants will receive immersive VR action observation training using their own 3D motion recordings captured with an Insta360 camera (Arashi Vision Inc., Shenzhen, China). In Parkinson's patients, only the initial movement sequences without bradykinetic slowing will be selected, and these will be extended to the desired duration using loop playback or ping-pong loop playback in the device's proprietary software. The action observation protocol will consist of the following one-minute tasks: (1) total finger abduction and adduction, (2) fist making and opening, (3) wrist flexion and extension, (4) forearm pronation and supination, and (5) rhythmic striking of the dorsal and palmar surfaces of one hand against the palm of the other. A 1-minute rest will be given between each video. Training will be provided in addition to conventional therapy (35 minutes, 3 days per week for 6 weeks) tailored to individual needs.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Healthy-Model VR Action Observation Training

Participants will receive immersive VR action observation training using 3D video recordings of the same activities performed by healthy individuals, captured with an Insta360 camera (Arashi Vision Inc., Shenzhen, China). Recordings will not require editing or adjustments. The action observation protocol will consist of the same one-minute tasks: (1) total finger abduction and adduction, (2) fist making and opening, (3) wrist flexion and extension, (4) forearm pronation and supination, and (5) rhythmic striking of the dorsal and palmar surfaces of one hand against the palm of the other. A 1-minute rest will be given between each video. Training will be provided in addition to conventional therapy (35 minutes, 3 days per week for 6 weeks) tailored to individual needs.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Voluntary agreement to participate in the study
• Clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease confirmed by a neurologist
• Ongoing treatment with antiparkinsonian medication
• Hoehn and Yahr (H-Y) stage ≤ 3
• Ability to walk independently

Exclusion Criteria

• Presence of additional neurological disorders other than Parkinson's disease
• Change in medication dosage within the past month
• Score of ≥ 10 on the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire
• Presence of amblyopia, strabismus, or pathologies impairing focus, depth perception, or normal 3D vision
• Failure on the butterfly test of the Titmus stereotest (greater than 3,552 seconds of arc)

• Minimum Eligible Age: 50 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 85 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Abant Izzet Baysal University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

enes tayyip benli

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Abant Izzet Baysal University Faculty of Health Science

Bolu, Bolu, Turkey (Türkiye)

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Central Contacts

Enes T Benli, Ph.D

Role: CONTACT

enestayyipbenli@gmail.com

+905387359268

Other Identifiers

AIBU-FTR-BENLI-009

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id