Bobath Instruction in Physiotherapy: Virtual Reality Versus Traditional Methods

NCT ID: NCT07270107

Last Updated: 2025-12-08

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 20 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-05-01
• Study Completion Date: 2025-06-30

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality (VR)-based instruction compared with traditional face-to-face teaching for delivering the Bobath concept in physiotherapy education. Third-year physiotherapy students were randomly assigned to either VR-based or conventional instruction and completed standardized theoretical and practical assessments immediately after training and again two weeks later. While both instructional methods resulted in comparable short-term learning outcomes, the VR group demonstrated superior retention of practical skills at follow-up. Findings suggest that immersive VR is a feasible and effective educational approach for enhancing motor skill learning in neurophysiological rehabilitation training.

Detailed Description

This two-arm, parallel-group, single-blind randomized controlled trial aims to investigate whether immersive virtual reality (VR)-based education can enhance learning and retention of the Bobath concept among undergraduate physiotherapy students. The Bobath approach, widely used in neurorehabilitation, requires learners to integrate postural control principles, movement facilitation techniques, and sensorimotor strategies-skills traditionally taught through face-to-face lectures and hands-on demonstrations. Given the increasing integration of digital technologies in health professions education, immersive VR may offer an alternative through interactive, high-fidelity, and repeatable learning experiences.

Students will be randomized to receive either a standardized face-to-face instructional session or an immersive 360° VR-based session of equivalent duration and content. Both groups will be exposed to theoretical explanations and practical demonstrations focusing on trunk control strategies, alignment principles, and facilitation techniques. Practical components in both groups will be reinforced through structured small-group practice following the instructional session.

To ensure methodological rigor, two independent evaluators blinded to group allocation will assess student performance through a multiple-choice knowledge test and a three-station Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), administered two days after training and again two weeks later to evaluate retention. Inter-rater reliability will be calculated to ensure consistency of scoring across evaluators.

Conditions

Physical Therapy; Education; Virtual Reality; Neurorehabilitation

Study Design

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

Study Groups

Face-to-Face Bobath Instruction

Participants assigned to the Face-to-Face (F2F) group received a 45-minute instructor-led session consisting of theoretical explanation and practical demonstrations of Bobath-based postural control strategies. The session included live demonstration of facilitation techniques, alignment correction, and trunk control activities. After the instructional segment, students practiced the techniques in small groups under instructor supervision. Content duration, learning objectives, and practice structure were standardized across both study arms.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Traditional instruction

Intervention Type: OTHER

This intervention delivers Bobath concept education through conventional face-to-face teaching methods. The instructional session includes faculty-led theoretical explanations and live demonstrations delivered in a traditional classroom or laboratory setting. Students receive the standardized content through direct instructor interaction, consistent with customary physiotherapy training practices. All participants subsequently engage in supervised practice to apply the demonstrated concepts.

Virtual Reality Bobath Instruction

Participants in the Virtual Reality (VR) group received the same 45-minute instructional content through an immersive 360° VR video recorded by the same instructor. The VR session integrated theoretical narration with practical demonstrations of Bobath postural control strategies. Students viewed the session collectively using VR headsets. A structured debriefing followed to reinforce key concepts and allow question clarification. As in the F2F group, students then practiced the techniques in small groups following the session.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Immersive VR headset instruction

Intervention Type: DEVICE

The study interventions consisted of two educational delivery methods used to teach the Bobath concept in physiotherapy training. Both interventions provided identical learning objectives, theoretical content, and practical demonstration elements related to postural control strategies. The instructional materials were standardized in duration, sequencing, and educational objectives to ensure equivalence across groups. Delivery differed only in format, with one method provided through traditional in-person instruction and the other through immersive virtual reality technology. All students practiced the demonstrated techniques following the instructional component, and no additional instructional materials were provided beyond the assigned modality

Interventions

Immersive VR headset instruction

The study interventions consisted of two educational delivery methods used to teach the Bobath concept in physiotherapy training. Both interventions provided identical learning objectives, theoretical content, and practical demonstration elements related to postural control strategies. The instructional materials were standardized in duration, sequencing, and educational objectives to ensure equivalence across groups. Delivery differed only in format, with one method provided through traditional in-person instruction and the other through immersive virtual reality technology. All students practiced the demonstrated techniques following the instructional component, and no additional instructional materials were provided beyond the assigned modality

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Traditional instruction

This intervention delivers Bobath concept education through conventional face-to-face teaching methods. The instructional session includes faculty-led theoretical explanations and live demonstrations delivered in a traditional classroom or laboratory setting. Students receive the standardized content through direct instructor interaction, consistent with customary physiotherapy training practices. All participants subsequently engage in supervised practice to apply the demonstrated concepts.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Third-year undergraduate physiotherapy students.
• First-time enrollment in the Neurophysiological Approaches II course.
• No prior training or formal exposure to the Bobath concept.
• System Usability Scale (SUS) score classified as A+ (96-100 percentile). -Ability to participate in VR or face-to-face instruction as assigned.- Voluntary participation with provision of written informed consent.-

Exclusion Criteria

• History of medical conditions contraindicating VR use (e.g., vestibular disorders, migraine, epilepsy).
• Prior experience, certification, or coursework related to the Bobath concept.
• Failure to provide informed consent.
• Any condition that may limit safe participation in the educational session or assessments.

• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Kocaeli Sağlık ve Teknoloji Üniversitesi

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Sena Çınarlı

Asisstant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Hatice Sena Çınarlı

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Kocaeli University

Locations

Kocaeli Health and Technology University

Kocaeli, , Turkey (Türkiye)

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Other Identifiers

KOSTU-25-BOBATH

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id