VR motor training to improve strength, balance, and control in adults with autism
Official title: Motor Function Assessment and VR-based Motor Training in Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Run by National Taiwan University Hospital · NCT07134569 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial tests whether a 6-week virtual reality motor training program can improve muscle strength, balance, and motor control in adults with autism compared with non-autistic controls.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 45 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 200 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | National Taiwan University Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Taipei) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | December 15, 2023 |
| Main results expected | July 31, 2027 |
| Study ends | July 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | January 12, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07134569 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are motivated adults aged 18–45 with a DSM-5 diagnosis of autism, full-scale IQ > 70, and no major psychiatric, neurological, visual, or hearing conditions that would prevent participation.
✕Probably not a fit
People outside the 18–45 age range, with IQ ≤ 70, significant psychiatric or neurological disorders, or sensory impairments that prevent VR participation are unlikely to benefit from this program.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Researchers will enroll adults aged 18–45 with autism and a matched non-ASD comparison group to measure baseline motor, cognitive, and brain-activation profiles. Participants will undergo a 6-week VR-based motor training program, with standardized motor function tests before and after the intervention. The study will compare changes in muscle strength, balance, motor control, and related cognitive or neural activation between the ASD and control groups. Outcomes will determine whether the VR training produces measurable improvements in motor and brain function in adults with autism.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the VR training could improve muscle strength, balance, and motor control and thereby help daily function and independence for adults with autism.
How similar studies have gone: Smaller pilot studies and work in children or mixed-age groups using VR or focused motor training have shown promising improvements in motor skills, but rigorous large-scale adult ASD trials remain limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
\> The ASD Group Inclusion criteria: * young adult aged between 18 and 45 years who had a diagnosis of ASD from a licensed mental health or medical professional based on DSM-5. * was motivated to complete the 6-week VR-based motor function training. * had a full-scale IQ \> 70 on the WAIS-IV. Exclusion criteria: * a history of major mental illness (e.g., bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia, or psychosis), neurological diseases (e.g., stroke, lumbar radiculopathy, or spinal cord injury) that hamper walking function, or neurosurgery. * visual impairment and/or hearing impairment that would preclude participation in motor assessment or training. * The Non-ASD control group Inclusion criteria: * young adult aged between 18 and 45 years who do not have a diagnosis of ASD. * had a full-scale IQ \> 70 on the WAIS-IV. Exclusion criteria: * a history of major mental illness (e.g., bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia, or psychosis), neurological diseases (e.g., stroke, lumbar radiculopathy, or spinal cord injury), or neurosurgery that hamper walking function. * visual impairment and/or hearing impairment that would preclude participation in motor assessment or training.
Where it's running
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National Taiwan University Hospital
Taipei, Taiwan Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Yi Ling Chien, Clinical Professor
- Email: ntuh.peers@gmail.com
- Phone: +886 2-23123456
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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.