Effectiveness of Virtual Reality-Assisted Physical Therapy in the Acute Phase After Lumbar Disc Surgery

Hacettepe University

Status: Invitation-only

Conditions: Lumbar Disc Surgery; Lumbar Disc Herniation

Treatments: Other: Conventional Physical Therapy; Other: Virtual Reality-Assisted Physical Therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07204197

VRLDHS1D

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality-assisted physical therapy in the acute postoperative period after lumbar disc surgery.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does virtual reality-assisted physical therapy reduce pain more effectively than conventional physical therapy?
• Does it improve functional recovery, pain threshold, and blood biomediator levels?
• Does it reduce anxiety and kinesiophobia in the early rehabilitation period?

Researchers will compare virtual reality-assisted physical therapy with standard physical therapy to determine whether virtual reality provides additional therapeutic benefits.

Participants will:

• Undergo standard postoperative physical therapy after lumbar disc surgery.
• Some participants will additionally perform virtual reality-based rehabilitation exercises.
• Be evaluated for pain severity, functional improvement, blood biomediators, pain threshold, and psychological outcomes.

Full description

Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders and a major cause of low back pain worldwide. It occurs when the intervertebral disc extends beyond its anatomical boundaries, compressing neural structures and leading to pain, disability, and reduced quality of life. Although most patients are treated conservatively, approximately 15% require surgical intervention. Postoperative pain is one of the most significant challenges after lumbar disc surgery, reported in up to 70% of patients in the acute period. Insufficient pain management may delay mobilization, prolong hospitalization, increase healthcare costs, and negatively affect both physical and psychological recovery.

Pharmacological treatments, such as NSAIDs, opioids, muscle relaxants, and neuropathic pain agents, are commonly used for postoperative pain control. However, their potential side effects and limited efficacy have raised interest in non-pharmacological interventions. Conventional physical therapy protocols-mobilization, exercise, manual therapy, and patient education-are central to postoperative rehabilitation, improving mobility, functional recovery, and independence. Early mobilization within the first days after surgery has been shown to reduce complications and accelerate healing.

In recent years, technology-based approaches have emerged as complementary or alternative rehabilitation methods. Among them, virtual reality (VR) offers interactive, multisensory, and engaging environments that can contribute to both physical and psychological recovery. VR has shown therapeutic potential in pain management by diverting attention, reducing anxiety and stress, and promoting patient engagement in rehabilitation. Importantly, VR has demonstrated effectiveness in musculoskeletal conditions, neurological rehabilitation, and postoperative care in other surgical populations.

Despite growing evidence, there is a lack of comprehensive studies evaluating VR in the acute postoperative phase after lumbar disc surgery, particularly in comparison with conventional physical therapy protocols. This study aims to address this gap by investigating the effectiveness of VR-assisted physical therapy versus conventional physical therapy in patients undergoing lumbar discectomy.

The primary outcomes include pain intensity, pain threshold, and blood biomediator levels. Secondary outcomes include functional recovery, kinesiophobia, and anxiety. By systematically comparing both interventions, this trial seeks to determine the advantages and limitations of VR-assisted rehabilitation, with the goal of developing innovative, safe, and effective strategies for postoperative care.

Enrollment: 46 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Adults aged 18-65 years.
• Undergoing lumbar discectomy surgery (L4-L5 or L5-S1 levels).
• Able to start postoperative physical therapy on day 1 after surgery.
• Willing and able to provide informed consent.
• Sufficient cognitive and physical ability to participate in physical therapy and virtual reality sessions.

Exclusion criteria

• History of previous lumbar spine surgery.
• Severe neurological deficits (e.g., cauda equina syndrome, progressive motor weakness).
• Diagnosed epilepsy, severe psychiatric illness, or other conditions contraindicate VR use.
• Significant visual or vestibular impairments preventing safe VR participation.
• Uncontrolled systemic diseases (e.g., cardiovascular, respiratory, or metabolic instability).
• Pregnancy.
• Inability to understand study instructions or complete outcome assessments.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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46 participants in 2 patient groups

Virtual-Reality-Assisted Physical Therapy Group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants assigned to this group will receive a standardized 40-minute physical therapy program starting on postoperative day 1, followed by a 20-minute immersive virtual reality (VR) session. The VR application provides a relaxation-focused, interactive environment designed to reduce pain perception, anxiety, and stress while supporting engagement in rehabilitation. Sessions are delivered once daily during hospitalization. Patients are monitored for comfort and potential side effects such as dizziness or nausea, and all procedures are supervised by a physiotherapist to ensure safety and adherence.

Treatment:

Other: Virtual Reality-Assisted Physical Therapy

Conventional Physical Therapy Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants in this group will receive the same standardized physical therapy program as the VR group, beginning on postoperative day 1. To match the 60-minute session length, exercise repetitions and intensity are increased instead of adding virtual reality. Thus, both groups complete identical physical therapy content, with the only difference being the addition of a VR session in the intervention group. All sessions are delivered once daily during hospitalization and supervised by a physiotherapist.

Treatment:

Other: Conventional Physical Therapy