Moving Without Fear or Pain: Virtual Reality Rehabilitation for Older Adults with Chronic Pain
Official title: Moving Without Fear or Pain: Use of Immersive Virtual Reality to Reduce Pain and Improve Well-Being in Older Adults
Run by Laval University · NCT07607899 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A virtual reality program is tested to see if it helps adults 65 and older who have chronic pain and fear of movement feel better and move more.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 65 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 24 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Laval University Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Québec, Quebec and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 14, 2026 |
| Main results expected | March 2027 |
| Study ends | March 2027 |
| Registry record updated | September 10, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07607899 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 65 or older with chronic pain (≥6 months), not limited to only those who speak French, and with a Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia score above 25.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals without significant fear of movement, those unable to participate in rehabilitation activities, or those with contraindicating medical conditions may derive little or no benefit.
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 explores a moving-within-safety program using immersive virtual reality to gradually reintroduce activity in older adults with chronic pain and kinesiophobia. Participants receive up to eight supervised VR sessions over about one month, with sessions lasting 5 to 30 minutes in calming or engaging environments. The trial aims to assess feasibility, acceptability, and potential impact on pain, movement, and quality of life, grounded in a biopsychosocial approach. The intervention combines biological, psychological, and social elements to reduce fear of movement and counter deconditioning, aided by graded exposure to movement in a controlled setting.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants may experience reduced fear of movement, improved physical activity, and better overall functioning.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests immersive VR can support graded movement and pain management, with this study exploring feasibility in an older, French-speaking population.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 65 years or older * Able to understand and communicate in French * Chronic pain lasting 6 months or longer * Average pain intensity of 3 or greater on a 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale during the week prior to enrollment * Score greater than 25 on the 11-item Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-11) * No neurocognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination \[MMSE\] ≥ 24), or mild neurocognitive impairment (MMSE 18-24) with preserved capacity to consent (University of California Brief Assessment of Capacity to Consent \[UBACC\] score ≥ 12) * Normal or corrected-to-normal visual acuity Exclusion Criteria: * Severe motion sickness or intolerance that would prevent safe use of a virtual reality headset (experimental group only) * Medical condition that would prevent safe participation in rehabilitation activities * Presence of open wounds or infection at painful or contralateral sites
Where it's running
-
CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale
Québec, Quebec, Canada Recruiting -
CISSS de Chaudière-Appalaches
Sainte-Marie, Quebec, Canada Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Maude Laberge, PhD — Laval University
- Study coordinator: Martine Bordeleau, PhD
- Email: martine.bordeleau@outlook.com
- Phone: 1-581-490-2626
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.