Collaborative vs Non-Immersive VR in Parkinson's Rehabilitation

NCT07523425 | Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: PhD/RS-4623-A
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effectiveness of a Collaborative Virtual Reality Environment (CVE) and Non-Immersive Virtual Reality (NIVR) in the rehabilitation of patients with Parkinson's disease. Participants with mild to moderate disease severity will be randomly assigned to either the CVE group or the NIVR group. The CVE intervention will involve therapist-guided, interactive virtual exercises in a shared environment, promoting real-time engagement and feedback. The NIVR group will perform task-oriented exercises using screen-based virtual reality without immersive and collaborative features. Both interventions will be delivered over an 12-week period. Primary outcomes will assess motor function using standardized clinical scales, while secondary outcomes will evaluate cognitive function, mobility, and quality of life. The study seeks to determine whether collaborative and interactive virtual rehabilitation provides superior clinical outcomes compared to conventional non-immersive virtual approaches in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Conditions

Parkinson Desease

Keywords

Parkinson Disease; Collaborative Virtual Reality Evinronment; Non Immersive Virtual Reality; Rehabilitation; Motor Control

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• MDS-UPDRS-III

  The MDS-UPDRS-III is a clinician-administered scale used to assess motor impairment in individuals with Parkinson's disease. It evaluates key domains including bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor, postural stability, and gait through a series of standardized physical examination items. Each item is scored on a 5-point ordinal scale ranging from 0 (normal) to 4 (severe impairment), with higher total scores indicating greater motor dysfunction. The scale provides a comprehensive measure of motor severity and is widely used in both clinical and research settings due to its strong reliability and validity. Changes in MDS-UPDRS-III scores over time will be used to determine the effectiveness of the intervention in improving motor function.

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at12 weeks

• Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test

  The Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test is a standardized clinical measure used to assess functional mobility, balance, and risk of falls in individuals with Parkinson's disease. The test requires the participant to stand up from a seated position, walk a distance of approximately 3 meters, turn around, walk back to the chair, and sit down. The total time taken to complete the task is recorded in seconds. Shorter completion times indicate better functional mobility and balance performance, whereas longer times may reflect impaired mobility and increased fall risk. The TUG test is widely recognized for its simplicity, reliability, and sensitivity to changes following rehabilitation interventions.

  Assessed at baseline (pre-intervention) and at the end of the intervention period (12 weeks)

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I)

  Assessed at baseline (pre-intervention) and at the end of the intervention period (12 weeks)

• Parkinson's Disease Fatigue Scale (PFS-16)

  Assessed at baseline (pre-intervention) and at the end of the intervention period (12 weeks)

• Action Research Arm Test (ARAT)

  Assessed at baseline (pre-intervention) and at the end of the intervention period (12 weeks)

Study Arms (2)

CVE

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm will receive rehabilitation through a Collaborative Virtual Reality Environment (CVE), where both the patient and therapist interact simultaneously within a shared virtual space. The intervention is delivered using a head-mounted display-based system that enables real-time communication, guidance, and feedback. The rehabilitation program consists of task-specific, goal-oriented exercises targeting upper limb function, gait, balance, and functional mobility. Activities are designed to simulate real-world movements and include object manipulation, reaching tasks, and controlled walking scenarios. The therapist actively supervises and adapts the exercises during each session, ensuring appropriate progression based on patient performance. The collaborative nature of the environment facilitates increased engagement, motor learning, and adherence by incorporating interactive elements and immediate corrective feedback. The intervention follows structured progressio

Other: Collaborative Virtual Environment

NIVR

OTHER

Participants in this arm will undergo rehabilitation using a Non-Immersive Virtual Reality (NIVR) system delivered through a standard screen-based interface. The intervention without the use of head-mounted displays or real-time collaborative features. The rehabilitation program includes task-oriented exercises focusing on upper limb function, balance, gait-related activities, and overall functional mobility. These exercises are designed to replicate real-world movements and are performed in a structured and repetitive manner to promote motor learning. Participants will perform the activities independently with periodic supervision from a therapist. Feedback is primarily system-generated, and progression is based on predefined levels of difficulty within the software. The intervention emphasizes consistency, task specificity, and gradual progression throughout the study

Other: Non-Immersive Virtual Reality (NIVR)

Interventions

Collaborative Virtual Environment OTHER

Collaborative Virtual Reality Environment (CVE), participants perform exercises within a shared virtual space alongside a therapist, enabling real-time interaction, guidance, and adaptive feedback.

CVE

Non-Immersive Virtual Reality (NIVR) OTHER

Physiotherapy-based rehabilitation delivered through a screen-based virtual environment, involving structured, task-oriented exercises performed with limited therapist interaction

NIVR

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 45 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Male and Female
• Age: 45 years-80 Years
• Diagnosed patients of idiopathic Parkinson Disease with minor to moderate severity according to the Hoehn \& Yahr stages I-III.
• On conventional and stable medical treatment at present
• No severe cognitive impairments (MMSE ≥ 24).
• Ability to participate in virtual rehabilitation sessions
• Willingness to participate and provide informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Severe visual, auditory, or motor impairments unrelated to Parkinson's.
• Fear of virtual environment.
• Comorbidities that hinder participation in the treatment (e.g., advanced dementia).
• Severe musculoskeletal conditions limiting movement
• History of epilepsy or conditions contraindicating virtual reality exposure
• Participation in another interventional study within the last 3 months

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Superior University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Punjab Institute of Neurosciences Lahore

Lahore, Punjab Province, 54000, Pakistan

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Parkinson Disease

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Parkinsonian Disorders; Basal Ganglia Diseases; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Movement Disorders; Synucleinopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases

Central Study Contacts

Hafiz Muddassir Riaz

CONTACT

+923456627409; muddassir.riaz@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Outcome assessor will be blinded for the purpose of avoiding biase
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator (PI)

Model Details: Two parallel group

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 5, 2026
• First Posted: April 13, 2026
• Study Start: May 27, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 27, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2026
• Last Updated: April 15, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Locations

PA (1)