VR Therapy Effects in Lumbar Disc Herniation

NCT ID: NCT07309627

Last Updated: 2025-12-30

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

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

93 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-11-01

Study Completion Date

2023-12-31

Brief Summary

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This study aims to evaluate the effects of incorporating virtual reality (VR) therapy into routine physical therapy (RPT) on balance, pain, kinesiophobia, quality of life, and depression in individuals diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

Detailed Description

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Purpose:

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of adding virtual reality (VR) therapy to routine physical therapy (RPT) on balance, pain, kinesiophobia, quality of life, and depression in individuals with lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

Methods:

A total of 93 patients diagnosed with LDH will be randomly assigned into two groups: an intervention group (n=47) and a control group (n=46). Both groups will undergo a conventional physical therapy program consisting of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), vacuum interference, heat application, and ultrasound therapy. In addition to the conventional program, the intervention group will receive VR-based therapy.

Participants will be assessed at baseline and at the end of the intervention period using the following outcome measures: balance assessed by the Nintendo Balance Board-based Balance System; activities of daily living assessed by the Oswestry Disability Index; back pain intensity assessed by the Visual Analog Scale; kinesiophobia assessed by the Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale; quality of life assessed by the Short Form-36 questionnaire; and depression assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory.

Conditions

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Lumbar Disc Herniation

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Control Group

Arm 1 - Control Group Arm Title: Control Group Arm Type: Active Comparator Description: Participants in this group will receive standard physiotherapy interventions commonly used for the management of lumbar disc herniation.

Intervention Intervention Name: Conventional Physiotherapy Intervention Type: Behavioral Intervention Description: A traditional physiotherapy program including supervised stretching, strengthening, and mobility exercises tailored for individuals with lumbar disc herniation.

Assigned Arm: Control Group

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Conventional Physiotherapy

Intervention Type OTHER

TENS, superficial and deep heat therapy, and interferential current + strengthening, stretching, and postural correction exercises Three times per week for six weeks, each session lasting 40 minutes,

Experimental Group

Arm 2 - Experimental Group Arm Title: Experimental Group Arm Type: Experimental Description: Participants in this group will receive a virtual reality-based exercise program designed to improve balance, reduce pain, decrease kinesiophobia, and enhance quality of life.

Intervention Intervention Name: Virtual Reality Exercise Program Intervention Type: Behavioral Intervention Description: A structured virtual reality-based exercise protocol including balance, core-strengthening, mobility tasks, and functional training tailored for lumbar disc herniation.

Assigned Arm: Experimental Group

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Conventional Physiotherapy

Intervention Type OTHER

TENS, superficial and deep heat therapy, and interferential current + strengthening, stretching, and postural correction exercises Three times per week for six weeks, each session lasting 40 minutes,

VR

Intervention Type OTHER

The Virtual Reality (VR) group : conventional treatment in combination with a VR application (Balance System Assessment System and Active Video Games), (consisting of six different games at three difficulty levels (beginner, intermediate, advanced).

Each game lasted for 2 minutes and was repeated twice. Over six weeks, both groups completed a total of 18 sessions (3 sessions per week)

Interventions

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Conventional Physiotherapy

TENS, superficial and deep heat therapy, and interferential current + strengthening, stretching, and postural correction exercises Three times per week for six weeks, each session lasting 40 minutes,

Intervention Type OTHER

VR

The Virtual Reality (VR) group : conventional treatment in combination with a VR application (Balance System Assessment System and Active Video Games), (consisting of six different games at three difficulty levels (beginner, intermediate, advanced).

Each game lasted for 2 minutes and was repeated twice. Over six weeks, both groups completed a total of 18 sessions (3 sessions per week)

Intervention Type OTHER

Other Intervention Names

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Virtual Reality

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation (LDH)
* Sedentary lifestyle
* Presence of low back pain for at least 3 months
* No participation in physiotherapy or structured rehabilitation programs within the previous 6 months

Exclusion Criteria

* History of spinal surgery or spinal trauma
* Presence of vestibular disorders
* Presence of neurological diseases
* Presence of cardiopulmonary diseases
* Presence of other musculoskeletal disorders affecting participation
* Pregnancy
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Uskudar University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

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Üsküdar Üniversitesi

Umraniye, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Site Status

Countries

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Turkey (Türkiye)

References

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Arias LFG, Zhang Y, Tijssen M, Wilhelm E. Virtual Reality Supported Neck Stretching Exercises to Improve Cervical Range of Motion. Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2025 Jul;2025:1-7. doi: 10.1109/EMBC58623.2025.11253550.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 41336211 (View on PubMed)

Yuenyongchaiwat K, Chitjamnogchai C, Sermsinsaithong N, Tavonudomgit W, Mahawong L, Buranapuntalug S, Songsorn P, Thanawattano C. Benefit of home-based virtual reality aerobic exercise combined with resistance training for reversing sarcopenia and reducing depression in community-dwelling older adults with sarcopenia: a randomized control trial. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2025 Nov 29;142:106108. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2025.106108. Online ahead of print.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 41338160 (View on PubMed)

Dutta A, Hatjipanagioti K, Newsham MA, Leyland L, Rickson L, Buchanan A, Farkhatdinov I, Twamley J, Das A. Extended Reality Biofeedback for Functional Upper Limb Weakness: Mixed Methods Usability Evaluation. JMIR XR Spat Comput. 2025 Jun 3;2:e68580. doi: 10.2196/68580. eCollection 2025.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 41340847 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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deniz 1

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id