Effectiveness of Virtual Reality in Hand Therapy

Timothy Uhl

Status: Completed

Conditions: Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome; Flexor Tendon Rupture; Distal Radius Fracture

Treatments: Other: Virtual Reality Exercises

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05188040

72833

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to determine if the use of Virtual Reality as an intervention for patients following specific hand injuries will positively affect patients with decreased hand function and reduce pain and improve outcomes. Participants will be recruited from 3 different clinics in central Kentucky.

Full description

Participants will participate in four sessions of therapy treatment over a 2-3 week time span of schedule therapy appointments during their active phase of rehabilitation for approximately 1-hour virtual reality (VR) training dosage which will be recorded. The specific virtual reality games within the Oculus Quest 2 VR system will be selected by the therapist providing interventions each session.

In addition to the Virtual Reality intervention noted above, participants will participate in a pre and post-test outcome measure session (25-30 minutes) with a research team member. (See outcome measure section for more details).

Enrollment: 9 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 99 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Attending hand therapy for rehabilitation of an upper extremity injury with a diagnosis of distal radius fracture, complex regional pain syndrome or tendon ruptures
2. Must be in an active exercise phase of rehabilitation

Exclusion criteria

1. Not in a phase in their rehabilitation in which they can perform active exercises
2. Having arm injury due to a neurological disorder (stroke, Multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, other)
3. Non-English speaking
4. Patient reporting a history of severe claustrophobia or motion sickness

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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9 participants in 1 patient group

Virtual Reality Intervention Group

Experimental group

Description:

Hand Therapy Exercises utilizing Oculus Quest 2 VR system with augmented feedback for patient to perform active hand therapy. Specific interventions / games will be selected by the participants individual therapist.

Treatment:

Other: Virtual Reality Exercises