Hand and Forearm Trauma, Hand and Upper Limb Trauma, Muskuloskeletal Diseases, Wrist Injury
Conditions
Keywords
Virtual Reality, Upper limb rehabilitation, Sensorimotor Function, Functional recovery
Brief summary
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality (VR)-based Action Observation Therapy (AOT) as an adjunct to conventional rehabilitation in patients with traumatic wrist and hand injuries. Participants will receive standard rehabilitation treatment, and the intervention group will additionally undergo a six-week VR program involving observation and execution of functional hand and wrist movements. Outcomes related to hand function, grip strength, pain, proprioception, disability, and psychological factors will be assessed to determine the potential benefits of incorporating VR into rehabilitation programs.
Detailed description
Traumatic injuries of the wrist and hand are among the most common musculoskeletal conditions and can result in substantial impairments in function, strength, dexterity, and quality of life. Conventional rehabilitation is effective but often relies on repetitive exercises that may reduce patient motivation and adherence over time. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising rehabilitation tool by providing immersive, interactive, and task-oriented environments that enhance patient engagement and facilitate motor learning. In addition, Action Observation Therapy (AOT) is based on the activation of the mirror neuron system, whereby observing goal-directed movements may facilitate motor planning, cortical reorganization, and functional recovery. The present randomized controlled trial will investigate the effectiveness of immersive VR-based AOT as a complementary intervention to conventional rehabilitation in patients with traumatic wrist and hand injuries. Participants receiving treatment at a specialized hand therapy unit will be randomly assigned to rehabilitation programs that include immersive VR sessions in addition to standard care. The VR intervention will be delivered using Meta Quest Pro head-mounted displays and will consist of observation and subsequent execution of functional wrist and hand movements, including grasping, releasing, fine motor tasks, flexion-extension, and deviation movements. The intervention will be conducted twice weekly for six weeks, with approximately 45-minute sessions. Outcome measures will include grip strength, pain, wrist function, upper-limb disability, proprioception, kinesiophobia, pain catastrophizing, and patient-reported hand function. Assessments will be performed using validated clinical instruments, including the Jamar dynamometer, Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE), Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (QuickDASH), Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-11), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), Joint Position Sense (JPS), and Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ). The study aims to determine whether the addition of immersive VR-based AOT to conventional rehabilitation improves sensorimotor recovery, functional outcomes, and patient engagement following traumatic wrist and hand injuries.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALImmersive Virtual Reality Action Observation Therapy
Participants observe and subsequently perform functional wrist and hand movements within immersive virtual reality environments using a Meta Quest Pro headset. The intervention is delivered twice weekly for six weeks, with sessions lasting approximately 45 minutes.
OTHERConventional Rehabilitation
Standard rehabilitation program for traumatic wrist and hand injuries including active and passive mobilization, strengthening exercises, functional training, and pain management.
Sponsors
University of Malaga
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Investigator)
Masking description
Participants will be anonymized with a number and randomized with a web program (random.org)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Adults aged 18 years or older. * Diagnosis of a traumatic wrist and/or hand injury. * Referred for rehabilitation treatment at the participating hand therapy unit. * Ability to understand study procedures and provide written informed consent. * Ability to participate in the virtual reality intervention.
Exclusion criteria
* Previous injury affecting the same hand. * Associated upper-limb conditions, including tenosynovitis or Dupuytren's disease. * Previous surgery involving the affected hand before the current traumatic injury. * Corticosteroid or other therapeutic injection in the affected hand within the previous 3 weeks. * Any physical, neurological, visual, vestibular, or medical condition that prevents safe use of the virtual reality device. * Inability to comply with the study procedures or assessments.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) Score | Baseline (approximately 5 days after immobilization removal), week 6 (beginning of the sixth week of intervention), and 3 months after completion of the intervention | Self-reported upper limb disability assessed with QuickDASH questionnaire (0-100, higher scores indicate greater disability). |
| Patient-Rated Wrist and Hand Evaluation (PRWHE) Total Score | Baseline (approximately 5 days after immobilization removal), week 6 (beginning of the sixth week of intervention), and 3 months after completion of the intervention. | Wrist and hand pain and function assessed with the PRWHE questionnaire (0-100, lower scores indicate better outcomes). |
| Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) Total Score | Baseline (approximately 5 days after immobilization removal), week 6 (beginning of the sixth week of intervention), and 3 months after completion of the intervention. | Hand-specific function, pain, activities of daily living, work performance, aesthetics and satisfaction assessed with the MHQ (0-100 scale). |
| Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) Total Score | Baseline (approximately 5 days after immobilization removal), week 6 (beginning of the sixth week of intervention), and 3 months after completion of the intervention. | Shoulder pain and disability assessed with SPADI questionnaire (0-100, lower scores indicate better outcomes). |
| Pain Catastrophizing scale (PCS) Total Score | Baseline (approximately 5 days after immobilization removal), week 6 (beginning of the sixth week of intervention), and 3 months after completion of the intervention. | Maladaptive pain-related cognitions assessed with the PCS (0-52, higher scores indicate greater catastrophizing). |
| Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK-11) Total Score | Baseline (approximately 5 days after immobilization removal), week 6 (beginning of the sixth week of intervention), and 3 months after completion of the intervention. | Fear of movement assessed with the TSK-11 questionnaire (11-44, higher scores indicate greater kinesiophobia). |
| Active Wrist range of motion (degrees) | Baseline (approximately 5 days after immobilization removal), week 6 (beginning of the sixth week of intervention), and 3 months after completion of the intervention. | Active wrist flexion, extension, radial deviation, ulnar deviation, pronation and supination measured with a universal goniometer (degrees). |
| Grip strength (Kg) | Baseline (approximately 5 days after immobilization removal), week 6 (beginning of the sixth week of intervention), and 3 months after completion of the intervention. | Grip strength measured in kilograms using a Jamar dynamometer in standardized position. |
| Wrist joint position sense error (Degrees) | Baseline (approximately 5 days after immobilization removal), week 6 (beginning of the sixth week of intervention), and 3 months after completion of the intervention. | Proprioceptive accuracy assessed as the mean absolute angular error (degrees) between a target wrist joint position set by the examiner and the position actively reproduced by the participant with eyes closed. Lower values indicate better proprioceptive accuracy. |
Countries
Spain
Outcome results
None listed