VR-Assisted Rehabilitation in Partial Supraspinatus Tears

NCT07478835 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2024-144
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 52
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of virtual reality-assisted rehabilitation in patients with partial supraspinatus tendon tears. Partial supraspinatus tears are a common cause of shoulder pain, functional limitation, restricted range of motion, and fear of movement. Conservative rehabilitation is commonly used as first-line treatment, while evidence regarding immersive virtual reality rehabilitation in this patient population remains limited. Participants were randomly allocated to either a virtual reality-assisted rehabilitation group or a conventional rehabilitation group. Both groups received the same physical therapy modalities, including hot pack, therapeutic ultrasound, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. The control group subsequently performed conventional therapeutic shoulder exercises, whereas the virtual reality group performed approximately equal-duration immersive VR-based exercises instead of the conventional exercise component. Outcomes included pain, shoulder range of motion, disability, kinesiophobia, health-related quality of life, and supraspinatus tendon thickness.

Conditions

Partial Supraspinatus Tear; Shoulder Pain

Keywords

Virtual Reality; Kinesiophobia; Exercise Therapy; Rehabilitation; Rotator cuff

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Pain intensity measured by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)

  Pain intensity at rest and during shoulder movement was assessed separately using an 11-point Numeric Rating Scale, ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (the worst pain imaginable). Higher scores indicated greater pain intensity.

  Baseline and after 3 weeks of treatment

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Passive range of motion (ROM) of the affected shoulder

  Baseline and after 3 weeks of treatment

• Shoulder pain and disability measured using the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI)

  Baseline and after 3 weeks of treatment

• Health-related quality of life measured using the Short Form-36 (SF-36)

  Baseline and after 3 weeks of treatment

• Kinesiophobia measured using the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia

  Baseline and after 3 weeks of treatment

• Supraspinatus tendon thickness measured using ultrasonography (USG)

  Baseline and after 3 weeks of treatment

Study Arms (2)

virtual reality group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants received the same physical therapy modalities as the control group, consisting of hot pack, therapeutic ultrasound, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. They subsequently performed approximately 30 minutes of immersive virtual reality-based upper-extremity exercise using a Meta Quest Pro headset instead of the conventional therapeutic exercise component. The virtual reality exercise was therefore a replacement rather than an additional treatment.

Behavioral: VR-assisted rehabilitation program

Control Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants received physical therapy modalities consisting of hot pack, therapeutic ultrasound, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. They subsequently performed approximately 30 minutes of supervised conventional therapeutic shoulder exercises targeting shoulder mobility, stretching, strengthening, and scapular stabilization.

Behavioral: Conventional shoulder exercise program

Interventions

VR-assisted rehabilitation program BEHAVIORAL

Participants received physical therapy modalities consisting of hot pack, therapeutic ultrasound, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. They subsequently performed approximately 30 minutes of immersive virtual reality-based upper-extremity exercise using a Meta Quest Pro headset instead of the conventional therapeutic shoulder exercise component. The virtual reality activities involved repetitive, task-oriented shoulder and upper-extremity movements within an interactive three-dimensional environment. The intervention was delivered five days per week for three weeks, for a total of 15 sessions.

virtual reality group

Conventional shoulder exercise program BEHAVIORAL

After receiving physical therapy modalities consisting of hot pack, therapeutic ultrasound, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, participants performed approximately 30 minutes of supervised conventional therapeutic shoulder exercise. The program included scapular mobilization; stretching exercises for shoulder flexion, abduction, internal rotation, and external rotation; and strengthening exercises for the shoulder and scapular stabilizer muscles. Exercises were performed in three sets of 10 repetitions. The intervention was delivered five days per week for three weeks, for a total of 15 sessions.

Control Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Aged 18 to 65 years
• Shoulder pain persisting for more than four weeks
• Partial supraspinatus tendon tear confirmed by shoulder magnetic resonance imaging

You may not qualify if:

• Physiotherapy treatment within the previous six months
• Shoulder injection within the previous six months
• History of tendon repair surgery
• Communication or cognitive impairment
• Vertigo, vestibular disorder, or another condition causing balance instability
• History of epilepsy or seizures
• Photosensitivity
• Diagnosed psychiatric condition, including an anxiety disorder or claustrophobia
• Additional orthopedic condition affecting the same shoulder
• Neurological, vascular, or cardiac disorder restricting functional capacity
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hitit University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Hitit University Erol Olçok Research Hospital Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic

Çorum, Çorum, 19000, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Shoulder Pain; Kinesiophobia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Arthralgia; Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Phobic Disorders; Anxiety Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: Participants were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to two parallel groups. Both groups received the same standard physical therapy modalities. The control group subsequently performed approximately 30 minutes of conventional therapeutic shoulder exercise, whereas the experimental group performed approximately 30 minutes of immersive virtual reality-based exercise instead of the conventional exercise component.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 12, 2026
• First Posted: March 18, 2026
• Study Start: January 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: December 20, 2025
• Study Completion: December 20, 2025
• Last Updated: September 15, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)