Effect of Virtual Reality Training on Pain, Functional Disability, and Lumbar Reposition Error in Patients With Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain

May 5, 2026 updated by: Karim Osama, Cairo University

Effect of Virtual Reality Training on Pain, Functional Disability, and Lumbar Reposition Error in Patients With Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Control Trial

This study aims to investigate the effect of virtual reality (VR) training on pain intensity, functional disability, and lumbar reposition error in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) training in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP). Chronic low back pain is a highly prevalent condition associated with impaired proprioception, altered motor control, and functional disability.

Fifty participants diagnosed with CNSLBP were randomly assigned into two groups. The intervention group received virtual reality-based training in addition to conventional physiotherapy, while the control group received conventional treatment alone.

Outcome measures included pain intensity assessed by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), functional disability assessed by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and lumbar repositioning error measured using an iPhone inclinometer application.

The study aimed to determine whether VR training could significantly improve pain, functional outcomes, and proprioceptive accuracy in this population.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
50

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Egypt
      • Giza, Egypt, 12613
        • Cairo University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with low back pain ≥ 12 weeks Age: 21-45 years Both genders BMI: 18.5-24.9

Exclusion Criteria:

  • iabetic neuropathy Sciatica Spine deformities Previous lumbar surgery Neurological or vestibular disorders Visual disorders Malignancy or trauma Structural spinal disorders (stenosis, osteoporosis, etc.)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Arm 1
Participants in this group received conventional physiotherapy including TENS, therapeutic ultrasound, and proprioceptive exercises.
Device: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
TENS was applied in a prone position with electrodes placed over the painful area. Low-frequency stimulation (2-10 Hz) was used to achieve analgesic effects. Intensity was adjusted to produce a strong but comfortable tingling sensation. Each session lasted 20-60 minutes.
Drug: Therapeutic Ultrasound
Ultrasound therapy was applied using appropriate frequency (1 MHz for deep tissues, 3 MHz for superficial tissues) and intensity (0.5-2.0 W/cm²). Continuous or pulsed modes were selected based on the condition. Each session lasted 5-10 minutes.
Other: Proprioceptive Exercises
Participants performed trunk stabilization exercises including supine bridge, supine bridge on Swiss ball, and prone plank. Each exercise was performed for 30 seconds with 30 seconds rest, repeated 5 times, 3 sets per session, 3 times per week.
Experimental: Group 2
Participants in this group received the same conventional physiotherapy program in addition to virtual reality (VR) training.
Device: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
TENS was applied in a prone position with electrodes placed over the painful area. Low-frequency stimulation (2-10 Hz) was used to achieve analgesic effects. Intensity was adjusted to produce a strong but comfortable tingling sensation. Each session lasted 20-60 minutes.
Drug: Therapeutic Ultrasound
Ultrasound therapy was applied using appropriate frequency (1 MHz for deep tissues, 3 MHz for superficial tissues) and intensity (0.5-2.0 W/cm²). Continuous or pulsed modes were selected based on the condition. Each session lasted 5-10 minutes.
Other: Proprioceptive Exercises
Participants performed trunk stabilization exercises including supine bridge, supine bridge on Swiss ball, and prone plank. Each exercise was performed for 30 seconds with 30 seconds rest, repeated 5 times, 3 sets per session, 3 times per week.
Device: Virtual Reality (VR) Training

Participants underwent VR training using Xbox 360 Kinect system. The setup included a motion sensor and projector, allowing full-body interaction through game-based activities.

Training consisted of interactive games (e.g., rafting, running, ball hitting) designed to improve trunk control and motor function. Sessions were conducted twice weekly for 30 minutes over 12 weeks. Exercises included movements such as jumping, trunk tilting, and arm coordination, with progressive difficulty levels.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Pain intensity (VAS)
Time Frame: 1 Month
1 Month
Functional disability (Oswestry Disability Index)
Time Frame: 1 Month
1 Month
Lumbar reposition error (iPhone inclinometer)
Time Frame: 1 Month
1 Month

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Cairo University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 3, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
April 15, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
April 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 5, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 5, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 11, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 11, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 5, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • P.T.REC/012/00604

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings