Virtual Reality-based Motor Imagery in Patients With Fibromyalgia
The Effect of Virtual Reality-Based Motor Imagery on Pain, Psychological Status and Quality of Life in Fibromyalgia Patients
1 other identifier
interventional
28
1 country
1
Brief Summary
This study investigated the effects of a virtual reality-based motor imagery intervention integrated into a conventional exercise programme on pain outcomes (pain intensity, central sensitisation, pressure pain threshold, galvanic skin response, pain catastrophising), quality of life, sleep quality, fatigue, psychological outcomes (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), imagery ability and patient satisfaction.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at below P25 for not_applicable
Started Mar 2026
Shorter than P25 for not_applicable
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
Study Start
First participant enrolled
March 25, 2026
CompletedFirst Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
April 7, 2026
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
April 14, 2026
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
October 1, 2026
ExpectedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
December 1, 2026
April 14, 2026
April 1, 2026
6 months
April 7, 2026
April 7, 2026
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (2)
pain assessment
Pain during rest and activity will be assessed using the VAS. The VAS is a 10-cm scale where 0 points indicate 'no pain' and 10 points indicate 'the worst pain imaginable'. Participants will be asked to mark the scale based on their assessment of pain intensity over the past 24 hours. Pain intensity will be measured using the scale and recorded in centimetres.
baseline
pain assessment
Pain during rest and activity will be assessed using the VAS. The VAS is a 10-cm scale where 0 points indicate 'no pain' and 10 points indicate 'the worst pain imaginable'. Participants will be asked to mark the scale based on their assessment of pain intensity over the past 24 hours. Pain intensity will be measured using the scale and recorded in centimetres.
6 weeks
Secondary Outcomes (20)
Pressure Pain Threshold Assessment
Baseline
Pressure pain threshold assessment
6 weeks
Galvanic Skin Response
Baseline
Galvanic Skin Response
6 weeks
Central Sensitivity Inventory
Baseline
- +15 more secondary outcomes
Study Arms (2)
conventional exercise + motor imagery without virtual reality
ACTIVE COMPARATORParticipants will undergo a traditional rehabilitation programme three days a week under the supervision of a physiotherapist. Three virtual reality games targeting the upper limbs, trunk and lower limbs will be used; participants will watch these games on a monitor and visualise the movements.
conventional exercise + motor imagery with virtual reality
EXPERIMENTALParticipants will undergo a traditional rehabilitation programme three days a week under the supervision of a physiotherapist. Participants will watch three virtual reality games, each lasting three minutes and targeting the upper limbs, trunk and lower limbs, and will then perform motor imagery for two minutes.
Interventions
A structured conventional exercise programme will be implemented three days a week for six weeks. The conventional exercise programme has been designed to include components of stretching, postural control and muscle strengthening. Each session will last approximately 30 minutes. The intensity and difficulty level of the exercises will be gradually increased every two weeks and progressed in a controlled manner. In the experimental group, motor imagery exercises will be performed by creating a virtual environment using the provided virtual reality headset. In this group, a total of three different virtual reality games targeting the upper limbs, trunk and lower limbs will be used. Each game will be viewed for three minutes via the virtual reality headset, after which participants will be asked to mentally visualise the relevant movements for two minutes. The total duration of the motor imagery intervention is planned to be 15 minutes.
Participants in the control groups will undergo a structured conventional exercise programme under the supervision of a physiotherapist, three days a week for six weeks. The conventional exercise programme has been designed to include stretching, postural control and muscle strengthening components. Each session will last approximately 30 minutes. The intensity and difficulty level of the exercises will be gradually increased every two weeks and progressed in a controlled manner. In the control group, recorded versions of virtual reality games will be presented via a standard monitor screen without the use of a virtual reality headset. Participants will watch each video for three minutes and will then be asked to visualise the same movements for two minutes. The total duration of the motor imagery intervention in the control group will also be 15 minutes.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- To be a volunteer,
- To have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia according to the 2016 ACR diagnostic criteria,
- To be aged between 18 and 60,
- To have had pain symptoms for at least 3 months,
- To be receiving standard medical treatment,
You may not qualify if:
- The presence of neurological or orthopaedic conditions that would prevent participation in the rehabilitation programme
- Pregnancy,
- The presence of cognitive impairments that could affect cooperation,
- The presence of serious, uncontrolled health problems,
- A history of lower limb or spinal surgery
- Visual or hearing impairments;
- Serious psychiatric disorders
- A diagnosis of migraine
- Regular physical exercise in the last three months (≥2 days per week)
- Participation in any concurrent physiotherapy or rehabilitation intervention
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- Inonu Universitylead
Study Sites (1)
Inonu University
Malatya, Turkey (Türkiye)
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Interventions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- NONE
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Assistant Professor
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
April 7, 2026
First Posted
April 14, 2026
Study Start
March 25, 2026
Primary Completion (Estimated)
October 1, 2026
Study Completion (Estimated)
December 1, 2026
Last Updated
April 14, 2026
Record last verified: 2026-04
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will not share