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VR-Assisted Rehabilitation in Partial Supraspinatus Tears
Sponsor: Hitit University
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.
Official title: Effects of Virtual Reality-Assisted Rehabilitation on Pain, Kinesiophobia, Quality of Life, and Supraspinatus Tendon Thickness in Patients With Partial Supraspinatus Tears: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 65 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
52
Start Date
2025-01-01
Completion Date
2025-12-20
Last Updated
2026-09-15
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
VR-assisted rehabilitation program
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.
Conventional shoulder exercise program
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.
Locations (1)
Hitit University Erol Olçok Research Hospital Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic
Çorum, Çorum, Turkey (Türkiye)