Effects of virtual reality on walking in adults with knee osteoarthritis

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This interventional study compares walking with and without immersive VR in adults aged 50 and older, including those with knee osteoarthritis and healthy controls. Participants will walk under five conditions: no VR, a neutral VR environment, and VR environments designed to promote safety or induce fear, to examine effects on gait biomechanics and psychological responses. The study aims to understand how VR-induced perceptions of safety or threat influence movement, pain, and fear of falling during walking. Data will come from gait analysis and participant-reported measures to characterize biomechanical and psychological changes. Recruitment is led by the University of Primorska with collaboration from Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, across multiple sites in Europe.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA) Group:

Inclusion criteria:

* Age 50 years or older.
* Diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis in one or both knees, confirmed according to the clinical and radiographic criteria of the American College of Rheumatology.
* Knee pain and radiographically confirmed osteophytes, together with at least one of the following: age over 50 years, morning stiffness lasting less than 30 minutes, or crepitus during active knee movement.

Exclusion criteria:

Participants will be excluded from the studies if they:

* are younger than 50 years;
* are on a waiting list for knee arthroplasty within the next year;
* have sustained an acute knee injury within the previous 6 months;
* have knee pain unrelated to KOA;
* have a knee or hip arthroplasty;
* have undergone surgery of the back, hip, knee, ankle, or foot within the previous 12 months;
* have health conditions or musculoskeletal limitations that affect strengthening exercise and limit physical function to a greater extent than knee pain (e.g., low back pain or hip pain);
* have concomitant systemic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout; neurological conditions (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or metabolic diseases affecting the nervous system); muscular or joint diseases/injuries affecting lower-limb function (e.g., osteoarthritis of the hip and/or ankle, sprains, fractures); or internal medical conditions (cardiovascular, pulmonary and/or oncological diseases, or diabetes with late complications such as diabetic foot or neuropathy) that affect physical capacity;
* have a history of stroke or myocardial infarction resulting in motor and/or cognitive impairments (including inability to provide informed consent);
* have balance disorders known to be caused by vestibular dysfunction;
* have a body mass index (BMI) \>32 kg/m²;
* have received intra-articular corticosteroid and/or hyaluronic acid injections within the previous 6 months;
* have diagnosed epilepsy or a history of epileptic seizures, particularly photosensitive epilepsy;
* experience frequent or severe migraines triggered by visual stimuli;
* have severe visual impairments that are not adequately corrected;
* have previously experienced pronounced adverse effects when using virtual reality (e.g., severe nausea, vomiting, marked dizziness, or severe disorientation).

Healthy Control Group:

Inclusion criteria:

* Age 50 years or older.
* No significant gait disturbances.

Where it's running

• University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences
  Izola, Slovenia Recruiting
• Vilnius Gediminas Technical University
  Vilnius, Lithuania Completed

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Nejc Šarabon
• Email: nejc.sarabon@fvz.upr.si
• Phone: +386 05/66-26-460

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.