Comparative Effects of Virtual Reality and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation in Patients With Parkinson's Disease

NCT ID: NCT07308093

Last Updated: 2025-12-29

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 28 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-12-15
• Study Completion Date: 2026-06-15

Brief Summary

Parkinson's Disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder marked by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and accumulation of α-synuclein (Lewy bodies).It impacts both motor and non-motor systems, with growing global prevalence-affecting 7-10 million people, mostly men over 60 years-due to increasing life expectancy and demographic shifts.

PD shows motor symptoms like tremors and bradykinesia, along with non-motor issues like depression, REM sleep disorder, and cognitive decline. Diagnosis is often delayed due to subtle early signs like constipation or shoulder pain and atypical cases lacking classical tremors.

VR offers immersive, task-specific therapy that enhances motor learning and neuroplasticity in a safe, engaging environment. By integrating sensory feedback and real-time motion tracking, VR reduces tremors, promotes cortical reorganization (notably in the sensorimotor cortex and cerebellum), and increases rehabilitation motivation through gamified experiences.

PNF is a hands-on therapy using tactile, auditory, and proprioceptive cues to improve coordination, strength, and movement patterns. Especially useful in Parkinson's rehabilitation, PNF targets rigidity, bradykinesia, tremors, and postural instability by reinforcing neuromuscular coordination and improving movement execution in functional, diagonal planes.

Sensorimotor control is the dynamic integration of sensory input, motor planning, and execution, which becomes disrupted in PD due to impaired proprioception and feedback loops. Patients rely excessively on visual feedback, making movement effortful, highlighting the need for focused upper limb rehabilitation strategies.

Detailed Description

• Experimental: (VR+ RPT) Participants in this group received Virtual Reality (VR)-based training in addition to Routine Physical Therapy (RPT). The VR intervention was delivered using the Oculus Meta Quest 3 headset and consisted of immersive, goal-directed tasks performed three times per week for six weeks, each session lasting 30 minutes at a moderate intensity (RPE 11-13). VR tasks were designed to target specific motor impairments, including pick-and-place tasks for kinetic tremor reduction, tracing tasks to address bradykinesia, and reaching and grasping tasks to improve proprioception. Participants interacted with five virtual balls in a simulated environment, transferring them from one basket to another under therapist supervision. Alongside VR, participants also underwent Routine Physical Therapy (RPT) three times per week for six weeks, each 40-minute session consisting of a warm-up with diaphragmatic breathing, 30 minutes of stretching and strengthening for the core, hip, knee, back, and elbow extensors, and a cool-down with static stretches for major muscle groups.
• Control: (PNF+RPT) Participants in this group received Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) therapy in addition to Routine Physical Therapy (RPT). PNF was administered three times per week for six weeks, with each session lasting 30 minutes at a moderate intensity (RPE 11-13). Specific PNF techniques were selected for symptom management: slow reversal for kinetic tremor to improve coordinated agonist-antagonist contractions, rhythmic initiation for bradykinesia to facilitate movement initiation, and tactile input to enhance proprioception and body awareness. PNF was administered under the direct guidance of a physical therapist, with manual contact and graded resistance tailored to individual capacity. Participants also received RPT on the same schedule and with the same structure as described for the experimental group, including warm-up breathing, targeted stretching and strengthening, and cool-down static stretches.

Conditions

Parkinson Disease

Keywords

Parkinson Disease; Sensorimotor Control; Virtual Reality Therapy; Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation; Upper Limb Rehabilitation; Neuroplasticity

Study Design

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

Study Groups

Virtual Reality

Participants in this group received Virtual Reality (VR)-based training in addition to Routine Physical Therapy (RPT). The VR intervention was delivered using the Oculus Meta Quest 3 headset and consisted of immersive, goal-directed tasks performed three times per week for six weeks, each session lasting 30 minutes at a moderate intensity (RPE 11-13). VR tasks were designed to target specific motor impairments, including pick-and-place tasks for kinetic tremor reduction, tracing tasks to address bradykinesia, and reaching and grasping tasks to improve proprioception. Participants interacted with five virtual balls in a simulated environment, transferring them from one basket to another under therapist supervision. Alongside VR, participants also underwent Routine Physical Therapy (RPT) three times per week for six weeks, each 40-minute session consisting of a warm-up with diaphragmatic breathing, stretching, strengthening and cool-down.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

artificial intelligence

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Participants in the experimental group underwent Virtual Reality (VR) training three times per week for a total of six weeks. Each session lasted approximately 30 minutes and was conducted at a moderate intensity, defined by the repetition of VR tasks five times per session. The intervention was delivered using the Oculus Meta Quest 2 head-mounted display, providing an immersive and interactive environment under the close supervision of a licensed physical therapist. The central activity involved 2 modules. Ball Shifting Module picking and placing five virtual balls within the simulated environment and transferring them from one basket to another. Cube Navigation Module, in this task, users guide a virtual cube through highlighted cells or routes using deliberate movements, requiring precise hand positioning and controlled movement paths.

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

Participants in this group received Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) therapy in addition to Routine Physical Therapy (RPT). PNF was administered three times per week for six weeks, with each session lasting 30 minutes at a moderate intensity (RPE 11-13). Specific PNF techniques were selected for symptom management: slow reversal for kinetic tremor to improve coordinated agonist-antagonist contractions, rhythmic initiation for bradykinesia to facilitate movement initiation, and tactile input to enhance proprioception and body awareness. PNF was administered under the direct guidance of a physical therapist, with manual contact and graded resistance tailored to individual capacity. Participants also received RPT on the same schedule and with the same structure as described for the experimental group, including warm-up breathing, targeted stretching and strengthening, and cool-down static stretches.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Intervention 1

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants in the control group received Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) therapy three times per week for a total duration of six weeks. Each session lasted approximately 30 minutes and was conducted at a moderate intensity, corresponding to an RPE of 11-13 on the Borg scale. For kinetic tremors, the slow reversal technique was applied. For bradykinesia, the rhythmic initiation technique was used. And to enhance proprioception, tactile input was provided through manual contact, resistance, and stretch applied by the therapist at key points of the movement pattern.

Interventions

Intervention 1

Participants in the control group received Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) therapy three times per week for a total duration of six weeks. Each session lasted approximately 30 minutes and was conducted at a moderate intensity, corresponding to an RPE of 11-13 on the Borg scale. For kinetic tremors, the slow reversal technique was applied. For bradykinesia, the rhythmic initiation technique was used. And to enhance proprioception, tactile input was provided through manual contact, resistance, and stretch applied by the therapist at key points of the movement pattern.

Intervention Type: OTHER

artificial intelligence

Participants in the experimental group underwent Virtual Reality (VR) training three times per week for a total of six weeks. Each session lasted approximately 30 minutes and was conducted at a moderate intensity, defined by the repetition of VR tasks five times per session. The intervention was delivered using the Oculus Meta Quest 2 head-mounted display, providing an immersive and interactive environment under the close supervision of a licensed physical therapist. The central activity involved 2 modules. Ball Shifting Module picking and placing five virtual balls within the simulated environment and transferring them from one basket to another. Cube Navigation Module, in this task, users guide a virtual cube through highlighted cells or routes using deliberate movements, requiring precise hand positioning and controlled movement paths.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Other Intervention Names

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease according to Gelb's criteria

2. Stage II-IV Hoehn &Yahr scale

3. Intact cognition status (MMSE > 24)

4. 50-80 years of age

Exclusion Criteria

1. History of PD surgery

2. Phobia of virtual gaming systems

3. Visual anomalies

4. Cardiovascular problems

5. Severe dyskinesia or "on-off" fluctuations

• Minimum Eligible Age: 50 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 80 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Lahore University of Biological and Applied Sciences

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Prof. Dr. Shoaib Waqas

Prof. Dr. Shoaib Waqas

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Shoaib Waqas, PhD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Lahore University of Biological and Applied Sciences

Javeria Younas, DPT

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Lahore College of Physical Therapy

Fatima Rehan, DPT

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Lahore College of Physical Therapy

Laiba Dhillon, DPT

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Lahore College of Physical Therapy

Locations

Lahore University of Biological and Applied Sciences

Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan

Countries

Pakistan

Central Contacts

Shoaib Waqas, PhD

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 03024552109

Email: shoaib.waqas@ubas.edu.pk

Facility Contacts

Shoaib Waqas, PhD

Role: primary

Other Identifiers

U1111-1332-3369

Identifier Type: REGISTRY

Identifier Source: secondary_id

DPT/ERB/33

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id