Sensor-based Physiotherapy Intervention with Virtual Reality

Launched by CARDIFF UNIVERSITY · Oct 10, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring how a virtual reality system can help people with knee osteoarthritis, a condition that causes pain in the knees. The study aims to see if using this technology at home can be a helpful addition to standard physiotherapy. Participants will play games that mimic real physiotherapy exercises using sensors that track their movements, making it a fun way to engage in treatment. The trial is designed to find out if this approach works well for patients, how many people can be recruited, and how acceptable it is for those involved.

To join the study, you need to be at least 45 years old, have a diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis, and experience pain in your knee most days. You should also be able to understand and consent to participate in the study. If you qualify, you will be randomly assigned to either the virtual reality program or a standard physiotherapy program for 12 weeks. After that, you will have follow-up appointments at 12 and 24 weeks to see how you’re doing. The researchers are also interested in your thoughts about the virtual reality experience, so interviews will be available for those in the new program. This is an exciting opportunity to help researchers learn more about innovative treatments for knee pain!

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Adults aged 45 or older years
• • Clinical diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis
• • Referred for physiotherapy for clinically diagnosed knee osteoarthritis pain
• • Activity related joint pain
• • Self-reported knee pain on most days for the past 3 months
• • Average pain severity in the past week of 4 or greater on a 10-point numeric rating scale
• • Able to understand written and spoken English
• • Able to provide written informed consent
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Where knee is not identified by the participant as the main source of pain (e.g. comorbid painful conditions, widespread pain).
• • Contraindication to exercise
• • Pain caused by malignancy, fractures, or inflammatory arthritis
• • Has received surgery for their knee pain in the last 12 months
• • Has commenced another new treatment for knee pain, including intra-articular injection, during the preceding 12 weeks
• • Concurrent ongoing treatment by physiotherapy other than the trial interventions
• • Previous knee arthroplasty in either knee
• • Unable to walk without a walking aid
• • Unable or unwilling to engage in either active or control intervention