Bobath Instruction in Physiotherapy: Virtual Reality Versus Traditional Methods (BOBATH-PT)

Kocaeli Sağlık ve Teknoloji Üniversitesi

Status: Completed

Conditions: Education; Neurorehabilitation; Virtual Reality; Physical Therapy

Treatments: Other: Traditional instruction; Device: Immersive VR headset instruction

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07270107

KOSTU-25-BOBATH

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full 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.

Enrollment: 20 patients

Sex: Female

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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20 participants in 2 patient groups

Face-to-Face Bobath Instruction

Active Comparator group

Description:

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.

Treatment:

Other: Traditional instruction

Virtual Reality Bobath Instruction

Experimental group

Description:

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.

Treatment:

Device: Immersive VR headset instruction