Virtual Reality Rehabilitation for Shoulder Injuries in Female College Basketball Players

NCT07110649 | Completed DMC

• 2 other identifiers: SMAPVC16042024No External Funding
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 45
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality technology in the rehabilitation of shoulder injuries in college women's basketball players. We hypothesise that rehabilitation training using a virtual reality system can improve the range of motion of the shoulder joint more effectively than traditional physical therapy methods and help athletes return to optimal condition. The study will compare the effects of virtual reality training, traditional rehabilitation training, and no intervention group.

Conditions

Virtual Reality Therapy

Keywords

VR; shoulder; female basketball player

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change from Baseline in Shoulder Joint Range of Motion After 9-Week Rehabilitation

  The primary outcome of this study is the change in shoulder joint range of motion (ROM) across five directions: flexion, abduction, extension, internal rotation, and external rotation. Shoulder ROM will be measured using a digital goniometer with ±1° accuracy, following standardised protocols from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). The normal ROM values for shoulder movement are as follows: Flexion (0°-180°), Abduction (0°-180°), Extension (0°-60°), Internal Rotation (0°-70°), and External Rotation (0°-90°). A positive change indicates an improvement in shoulder joint mobility from baseline to post-intervention.

  From baseline assessment to the end of 9-week rehabilitation period

Study Arms (3)

Virtual Reality Rehabilitation Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will receive immersive virtual reality rehabilitation training, which includes exercises designed to improve shoulder joint range of motion and simulate basketball-specific movements.

Device: Virtual Reality Rehabilitation Group

Traditional Rehabilitation Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this group will undergo conventional rehabilitation therapy, including manual therapy and exercises aimed at improving shoulder joint mobility.

Other: Traditional Rehabilitation Group

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in this group will not receive any rehabilitation intervention and will only be monitored for natural recovery.

Interventions

Virtual Reality Rehabilitation Group DEVICE

Conducted in three progressive stages using VR games: improving ROM, strengthening shoulder muscles, and simulating game scenarios.

Also known as: PICO3

Virtual Reality Rehabilitation Group

Traditional Rehabilitation Group OTHER

Used conventional physical therapy methods based on established rehabilitation programs.

Traditional Rehabilitation Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 24 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

Eligible participants are female college basketball players between the ages of 18 and 24 who have limited shoulder range of motion (ROM limitation) as confirmed by standardized clinical assessment. Participants must regularly engage in basketball training and have no history of shoulder surgery. Individuals will be excluded if they have neurological disorders or other medical conditions that may interfere with virtual rehabilitation, a history of vertigo or intolerance to virtual reality environments, or severe shoulder instability or injuries that prevent participation in rehabilitation training.

Contact the study team to discuss eligibility requirements. They can help determine if this study is right for you.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Jiarong Wang: lead

Study Sites (1)

Sanming Medicaand Polytechnic Vocational College

Sanming, Fujian, 415000, China

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Morikawa LH, Tummala SV, Brinkman JC, Crijns TJ, Lai CH, Chhabra A. Shoulder and Elbow Injuries in National Basketball Association Athletes and Their Effects on Player Performance. Orthop J Sports Med. 2023 Oct 6;11(10):23259671231202973. doi: 10.1177/23259671231202973. eCollection 2023 Oct.

  PMID: 37810744 BACKGROUND

Related Links

• Covers standardsStudy Protocol 1. Background and Objective Shoulder injuries are common among athletes, particularly female collegiate basketball players, for various types of disability assessment, especially in the fields of medicine and rehabilitation

Study Officials

• JIARONG WANG, PHD

  JIARONGW

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Researcher

Model Details: Virtual Reality Rehabilitation Group: Participants in this group will receive immersive virtual reality rehabilitation training aimed at improving shoulder joint mobility and basketball-specific movements. Traditional Rehabilitation Group: Participants in this group will undergo conventional physical therapy and manual training for shoulder joint rehabilitation. Control Group: Participants in this group will not receive any intervention and will be monitored for natural progression. Each group will consist of 15 participants, and the study will last for a total of 9 weeks.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 23, 2025
• First Posted: August 7, 2025
• Study Start: July 15, 2024
• Primary Completion: September 13, 2024
• Study Completion: May 16, 2025
• Last Updated: August 7, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CN (1)