Immersive virtual reality to reduce breathing effort during exercise in healthy adults
Impact of Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) on Respiratory Effort: A Pilot Study in Healthy Adults
This study will test whether immersive virtual reality during a 6-minute moderate cycling session can reduce how hard breathing feels in healthy adults aged 18–40.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 10 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 40 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan) |
| Trial ID | NCT07498816 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a randomized crossover pilot where healthy adults complete two exercise sessions: one with immersive virtual reality (IVR) and one without, in randomized order. In both sessions participants perform a 6-minute constant-load cycling test at a submaximal workload individualized from a prior incremental exercise test. Respiratory effort is measured continuously using esophageal pressure monitoring, with additional recordings of ventilatory variables, perceived dyspnea, acute state anxiety, and heart rate. The single-site protocol is conducted at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and is designed to detect acute IVR effects on physiological and perceptual responses to exercise.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Healthy adults aged 18–40 who can perform cycle ergometer testing, tolerate an esophageal balloon catheter, are not pregnant, and have no known cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, or metabolic disease and are not prone to motion sickness.
Not a fit: People with existing cardiopulmonary or neurological disease, those who cannot tolerate IVR or an esophageal catheter, pregnant individuals, or those taking medications that affect respiratory or cardiovascular responses are unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, IVR could offer a nonpharmacologic way to lessen perceived breathing effort during exertion and help guide symptom-relief strategies for people with exertional dyspnea.
How similar studies have performed: Previous IVR studies have reduced anxiety, pain, and stress and have modulated physiological responses, but direct evidence that IVR lowers respiratory effort during exercise is currently lacking.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy adults aged 18-40 years * Ability to perform cycle ergometer exercise testing * No known history of cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, or metabolic disease Exclusion Criteria: * Current respiratory symptoms or acute illness * Known cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, or metabolic disease * Use of medications that may affect respiratory or cardiovascular responses to exercise * Contraindications to exercise testing according to standard clinical guidelines * Pregnancy * Inability to tolerate placement of an esophageal balloon catheter * Susceptibility to motion sickness or discomfort with immersive virtual reality devices
Where this trial is running
Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan
- Escuela de Ciencias de la Salud UC. Departamento de Kinesiología. — Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan, Chile (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Gonzalo A Valdivia Lobos, Physiotherapy
- Email: gavaldivia@uc.cl
- Phone: +56971367803
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.