Home virtual-reality walking program for children with chronic conditions that affect physical health
EMMVIES : Walking Training at Home in VIrtual Reality for Children With Chronic Illnesses Impacting Physical Health
This program tests whether a home-based virtual-reality walking training helps children aged 6–17 with conditions like cerebral palsy, neuromuscular disease, obesity, or heart disease improve walking and daily physical activity.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Ages | 6 Years to 17 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University Hospital, Angers Government |
| Locations | 1 site (Angers) |
| Trial ID | NCT07021638 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
The EMMVIES approach delivers a home-based walking training using virtual-reality games (immersive or non-immersive) on a treadmill, supported by parents, for children with chronic conditions that impair physical health. Participants must be able to walk for at least five minutes on a treadmill (with or without body-weight support or aids) and to engage with VR games and questionnaires. The protocol enrolls defined subgroups—children with cerebral palsy (GMFCS II–III), overweight/obese children aiming to increase activity, and children with neuromuscular or other chronic conditions—and integrates the program into ongoing condition-specific care. Initial setup and follow-up visits occur at the coordinating center in Angers, with the training sessions performed at home over the intervention period.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are children aged 6–17 who can walk for five minutes on a treadmill (with or without support), can use virtual-reality games and complete questionnaires, are enrolled in condition-specific care for at least six months, and meet subgroup criteria (e.g., CP GMFCS II–III or BMI above the IOTF-25 percentile for the obesity group).
Not a fit: Children who cannot walk for five minutes on a treadmill, who cannot engage with VR or questionnaires, or who have contraindications such as hip pathology in the obesity group are unlikely to benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could improve gait and daily physical activity while making rehabilitation more accessible by enabling prolonged home-based therapy.
How similar studies have performed: Home-based motor rehabilitation programs have shown feasibility and some small trials of treadmill or VR interventions report benefits, but large definitive evidence for broad pediatric chronic-condition populations is still limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patient aged 6 to 17 years at date of inclusion; * Able to walk for 5 minutes on a treadmill with or without body weight support, with or without technical aids; * Be able to understand and play virtual reality games (immersive or non-immersive); * Be able to answer questionnaires; * Patient affiliated to or benefiting from a social security scheme; * Informed consent, dated and signed by parents or guardians (if minors), to participate in the study; * Included in a care program specific to their chronic condition for at least 6 months; * Meet the following criteria depending on the group: PC group: * Diagnosis of CP * Functional level classified II or III according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) * Rehabilitation goal: improvement of gait and/or gross motor function OB group: * Overweight or obese, defined by a BMI above the IOTF-25 percentile * Aim to increase daily physical activity * No history of hip pathology Group NM: * Diagnosis of one of the following neuromuscular pathologies: spinal muscular atrophy type 3, Duchenne disease, congenital myopathy or Charcot Marie Tooth. * Functional level of grade 2 to 6 on the Walton scale, or grade 3 to 7 on the Vignos scale * Rehabilitation goal: improvement of walking and/or gross motor skills Exclusion Criteria: * Patients weighing over 100 kg (due to the technical constraints of using the AMY mat). * For children aged 6 to 11: in connection with the immersive virtual reality device: problems with stereoscopic vision (perception of images in 3 dimensions), unstabilized epilepsy, facial trauma \< 3 months, hearing or visual impairment, pain, dizziness or nausea caused by using immersive virtual reality. * Patients who have undergone surgery in the last 3 months; * Patients who have received intramuscular botulinum toxin injections in the lower limbs or intensive therapy in the 3 months prior to inclusion; * Patient with a non-routine therapeutic program planned within 5 months that could lead to confusion with the tested program; * Patient with insufficient understanding of the French language; * Patient opposition (child or adolescent); * Persons deprived of liberty by judicial or administrative decision; * Persons under compulsory psychiatric care; * Persons under legal protection;
Where this trial is running
Angers
- Les Capucins — Angers, France (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Mickaël DINOMAIS, MD
- Email: Mickael.Dinomais@chu-angers.fr
- Phone: + 33 2 41 35 52 67
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.