None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Neck pain is a common health disorder in adults. This research aims to evaluate the efficacy of home based training in patients with chronic neck pain. Home training will include exercises designed to advance coordination and control of the neck. A secondary aim will be to evaluate the differences between training with a laser beam feedback, to a virtual reality gaming scenario. It is hypothesised that both types of training will advance patients’ performance, and possibly the VR may have some advantages. Ultimately this methodology could have important implications for future use in remote e-health.
Interventions
Eligible participants will be randomised into either control, laser kinematic training (LKT) or virtual reality kinematic training (VRKT). The baseline assessment will also provide the initial values for training in regards to ROM and kinematics in the VRKT group. ROM results will determine the positioning of interactive VR targets during training for the VRKT group.
The patients in both intervention groups- LKT, and VRKT, will be taught how to train by a qualified physiotherapist during a 60 m
Eligible participants will be randomised into either control, laser kinematic training (LKT) or virtual reality kinematic training (VRKT). The baseline assessment will also provide the initial values for training in regards to ROM and kinematics in the VRKT group. ROM results will determine the positioning of interactive VR targets during training for the VRKT group. The patients in both intervention groups- LKT, and VRKT, will be taught how to train by a qualified physiotherapist during a 60 minutes session at baseline. Patients in the LKT group will be provided with training equipment including head-laser beam and poster for home use. Patietns in the VRKT group will be provided with the hardware and software for this purpose. Patients in LKT and VRKT groups will be instructed to train in short trainings of up to 5 minutes continuously to avoid side effects. Training dosage will be 5 minutes 4 times a day, i.e. 20 minutes a day, 5 times a week. After 2 weeks of training they will have another session with the physiotherapist to progress their training difficulty level, help solving problems and reasure they are consistent with traiing. The overall duration of training in the VRKT and LKT will be 4 weeks. Each participant in the intervention group will be provided with a training plan directed towards: a. Increasing ROM b. Increasing motion velocity c. Increasing motion accuracy in smooth head pursuit Or a combination of the above. Training positions will be modified, from sitting to standing, single leg stand, or standing on a dynamic surface to assist progression of difficulty of the exercises. All participants will be required to complete an exercise diary.
Sponsors
Dr Julia Treleaven
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1) age 18 years or more; 2) prolonged neck pain for more than three months; and 3) Neck Disability Index (NDI) score greater than 12%. VAS (average during recent week) >10 mm.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: existing vestibular pathology; cervical fracture/dislocation; systemic diseases such as neurological, cardiovascular, or respiratory disorders affecting physical performance; history of traumatic head injury; inability to provide informed consent; or pregnancy. Patients will be excluded if results of their VR kinematic assessment reach normative values on at least 3/6 measures, from Vpeak and Vmean in right & left rotations and extension.
Outcome results
None listed