VR Stimulation of Exercise Response in Sedentary Humans

Wayne State University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Prolonged Inactivity; Metabolic Syndrome

Treatments: Behavioral: 20 minutes cycling exercise; Behavioral: Virtual Reality

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT07296991

IRB-23-06-5927

5R01AG059683-07 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Prolonged sedentary conditions contribute to declining health across human populations and cause significant secondary health consequences for many patients whose illnesses or injuries prevent them from exercising. The investigators have demonstrated that in a small animal fruit fly model, genetic stimulation of neurons that promote adrenergic signaling is sufficient to mimic the benefits of exercise training even in sedentary animals. The investigator's pilot work in humans has confirmed that humans respond to Virtual Reality (VR) stimuli that mimic exercise by increasing heart rate and altering heart rate variability in a way consistent with increased adrenergic activity.

In this study, the investigators will directly test for the first time whether repeated, controlled exposure to VR stimuli that induce adrenergic activity in sedentary humans can produce adaptive changes to protein expression and endurance performance like those produced by actual exercise in pre-diabetic participants with/without hypertension.

Enrollment: 48 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 25 to 40 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Equal numbers male and female (32 each)
2. Blood glucose HbA1C: 5.7-6.4% or 100-125 mg/dL
3. BP: systolic<120 and diastolic<80 mmHg, systolic 120-129 mmHg and diastolic <80 mmHg, or systolic >130 mmHg and diastolic >80 mmHg

Exclusion criteria

1. BMI>35kg/m2
2. Currently involved in an exercise program or similar activity
3. Taking medications that could affect results, including beta-blockers or SSRIs
4. Demonstrate any form of discomfort with the VR experience through self-reported feelings of anxiety or nausea
5. Alcohol consumption above a minimal level(<2 oz/night)
6. BP: Systolic >160 mmHg and Diastolic >110 mmHg

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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48 participants in 3 patient groups

EX-20 minutes sub max cycling exercise

Active Comparator group

Description:

20 minutes cycling exercise

Treatment:

Behavioral: 20 minutes cycling exercise

VR-virtual reality exercise

Experimental group

Description:

20 minutes virtual cycling

Treatment:

Behavioral: Virtual Reality

VR+: 20 minutes sub max cycling exercise + virtual reality

Active Comparator group

Description:

20 minutes cycling exercise + 20 minutes virtual cycling

Treatment:

Behavioral: Virtual Reality

Behavioral: 20 minutes cycling exercise