The Effect of Virtual Reality Training Compared to Traditional Exercise in Patients With Frozen Shoulder

Launched by UNIVERSITY GHENT · Aug 6, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how virtual reality (VR) training compares to traditional exercise for patients with frozen shoulder, a condition that causes pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint. The researchers want to see if playing a VR game can help improve shoulder movement, reduce pain, and increase strength, while also making the rehabilitation process more enjoyable. Participants with frozen shoulder will take part in two different sessions—one involving VR gaming and the other with traditional exercises. They will be evaluated before and after each session to measure improvements.

To be eligible for the trial, participants need to be diagnosed with frozen shoulder and must have significant restrictions in shoulder movement and pain that has persisted for at least two months. They can still be receiving other therapies while participating. Healthy individuals will also be included in the study for comparison, but they must not have had shoulder problems in the last six months. Throughout the trial, participants will share their experiences with both training methods, helping researchers understand the benefits of VR in shoulder rehabilitation.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • PATIENT GROUP (frozen shoulder
• Inclusion Criteria:
• • A diagnosis of frozen shoulder/adhesive capsulitis (by a medical doctor) both idiopathic and postoperative/posttraumatic
• * The participants need to have:
• • a passive ROM restriction (measured using goniometry) at the affected shoulder of 25% or more in at least two directions in comparison to the unaffected shoulder
• • an external rotation restriction at the affected shoulder of at least 50% when compared to the unaffected side
• • pain and restricted ROM present for at least two months, reaching a plateau or becoming worse
• • gradual onset of pain and stiffness
• • The participants are allowed to already be in therapy with a physiotherapist and do not have to stop an ongoing therapy in order to participate in the study. The reason for this is that only the short-term effect is being researched
• • The participants are allowed to have had an operative treatment if they still have the aforementioned restrictions
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • The presence of contra-indications to perform active shoulder movements
• • The presence of neurological conditions
• • Systemic disease (e.g. Fibromyalgia, rheumatism, muscle disease...)
• • The presence of visual conditions that will not allow performing VR therapy without losing balance
• • A pathology of the back of lower limbs which do not allow the performance of exercise in standing position
• • A higher risk of falling with at least one fall during the past year
• • Insufficient control of the Dutch language
• • HEALTHY GROUP Exclusion criteria
• • shoulder pain in the last 6 months
• • prior shoulder surgery
• • fractures of the upper arm or scapula
• • systemic disease (e.g. Fibromyalgia, rheumatism, muscle disease...)
• • the presence of contra-indications to perform active shoulder movements (e.g. recent elbow surgery), balance disorders (e.g. benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), visual disorders (e.g. severe reduced vision or visual acuity)
• • any pathology in the back/lower limbs that prevents standing exercises from being performed
• • increased risk of falls with at least one fall incident in the past year
• • insufficient knowledge of the Dutch language.