Using virtual reality landscapes to improve gait therapy for older adults
Official title: Effectiveness of Restorative Landscape Environments in Virtual Reality (VR) Used in Gait Training to Improve Gait Performance and Affect Restoration in Older Adults with Gait Insecurity - a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Run by ETH Zurich · NCT06304077 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests if using virtual reality environments during gait therapy can help older adults with walking difficulties improve their stability and reduce stress.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 65 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 84 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | ETH Zurich Academic / other |
| Locations | 3 sites (Schaffhausen, Canton of Schaffhausen and 2 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 23, 2024 |
| Main results expected | August 31, 2025 |
| Study ends | August 31, 2025 |
| Registry record updated | March 11, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT06304077 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are German-speaking individuals over 65 years old who are currently in inpatient care and participating in gait therapy.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with severe hearing impairments, epilepsy, or injuries that prevent comfortable use of VR glasses may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study investigates the effects of different restorative landscapes on gait therapy for older adults experiencing gait instability. Participants will use virtual reality (VR) goggles to experience urban, rural, and forest environments during their gait training sessions. The study aims to assess how these landscapes influence stress reduction, attention restoration, and changes in gait parameters. Participants will be divided into intervention and control groups, with the intervention group receiving additional VR training sessions alongside standard therapy. The goal is to determine the effectiveness of virtual landscapes in enhancing gait stability.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve walking performance and overall well-being in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of VR in therapy is gaining traction, this specific approach of combining restorative landscapes with gait therapy is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * age: \> 65 years * german-speaking * ability to give informed consent * attends gait safety training (usual care) * inpatient for a duration of min. 2 weeks in one of the study sites * items 7 - 15 of the De Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI): min. 2 points, max. 9 points * 3-minute walking distance: \> 30 m without rest, with or without walking aids, overground walking on flat surface Exclusion Criteria: * epilepsy * Partial weight bearing or conservatively or surgically treated billing with weight bearing as determined by symptoms * Severe hearing impairment (if not corrected with hearing aid) * Injuries to the eyes, face, or neck that prevent comfortable use of VR glasses.
Where it's running
-
Spital Zollikerberg
Zollikerberg, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland Recruiting -
Spitäler Schaffhausen
Schaffhausen, Canton of Schaffhausen, Switzerland Not yet recruiting -
Geriatrische Klinik St. Gallen
Sankt Gallen, Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland Not yet recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Ulrike Wissen Hayek, Dr. — ETH Zürich
- Study coordinator: Laura Schalbetter, MSc.
- Email: schalaur@ethz.ch
- Phone: +41 (0)44 633 34 25
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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.