Feasibility Study of Personalized Virtual Reality Rehabilitation Using Gamified Exercises for Common Shoulder Conditions

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating whether combining modern motion-tracking technology with virtual reality VR can improve rehabilitation outcomes for common upper limb conditions such as shoulder instability, frozen shoulder, and rotator cuff tears. The study aims to address challenges in traditional physiotherapy, where repetitive exercises can reduce patient motivation and adherence, potentially leading to less effective recovery. This feasibility study will explore if a gamified VR approach can enhance patient engagement and provide new ways to evaluate therapy progress. Participants will undergo four physiotherapy sessions, each lasting 60 minutes, where parts of conventional therapy are replaced by 30-minute VR exergame sessions. During these sessions, patients wear motion trackers on their arms and forearms, hold controllers, and use a commercial VR headset. Their real-world movements will control an avatar in virtual environments designed to guide them through therapeutic exercises. The VR system includes features like a virtual coach to prevent harmful movements, adaptive exercise difficulty, and continuous performance monitoring. Throughout the study, participants experience is assessed using questionnaires such as the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire, the Post-experimental Intrinsic Motivation Inventory, and the Avatar Embodiment Questionnaire. Patient satisfaction is also measured after the first day. Researchers will monitor movement quality, motivation, and safety during the sessions. The total participation includes four sessions, with detailed tracking of exercise performance and patient feedback to evaluate the feasibility of this personalized VR rehabilitation system.

Virtual Reality Rehabilitation for Shoulder Pathologies