Exploring Virtual Reality Adventure Training Exergaming (V-RATE)

May 27, 2026 updated by: Donna L. Schuman, The University of Texas at Arlington

Exploring Virtual Reality Adventure Training Exergaming (V-RATE) on Veterans' Health Outcomes

The current project aims to design and implement an 8-week Virtual Reality Adventure Therapy Exergaming (V-RATE) intervention focused on women veterans. A randomized controlled trial using a repeated measure design with a 1-month follow-up assessment will be employed to examine effects on physical and mental health outcomes.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The current project aims to design and implement an 8-week Virtual Reality Adventure Therapy Exergaming (V-RATE) intervention focused on veterans. A randomized controlled trial using a repeated measure design with a 1-month follow-up assessment will be employed. The project addresses two specific aims:

Aim 1. To examine the effects of an 8-week V-RATE intervention on physical health (i.e., BMI, physical activity, sedentary behavior) among veterans. We hypothesize that after controlling for socio-demographic variables and physical activity history, individuals in the V-RATE group would exhibit more improvement in the physical health indicators after the intervention compared to individuals in the control group. We further hypothesize gains would be maintained or enhanced at 1-month follow-up measure.

Aim 2. To examine the effects of an 8-week V-RATE intervention on mental health outcomes (i.e., depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, cognitive function, health-related quality of life), among veterans. We hypothesize that after controlling for socio-demographic variables and physical activity history, individuals in the V-RATE group will exhibit more improvement in the mental health indicators after the intervention compared to individuals in the control group. We further hypothesize gains maintained or enhanced at 1-month follow-up measure.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

40

Phase

  • 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 Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

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

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 45 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Are between the ages of 18 and 45
  2. Identify as a U.S. military veteran

4. Normal vision (no colorblindness)

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Unable to walk independently (e.g., use of any mobility assistive device such as brace, wheelchair, cane, crutch, walker, knee scooter)
  2. Self-reported joint problem that limits mobility (e.g., arthritis or other condition that would prevent participation) or ongoing orthopedic injury
  3. Self-reported pregnancy or suspicion of pregnancy
  4. Self-reported motor disorder or impaired sense of motion or balance (such as Parkinsonism)
  5. Self-reported color blindness
  6. Self-reported neurological or cognitive disorder (e.g., TBI, history of seizure)
  7. Self-reported cardiac surgery or any ongoing cardiovascular issues preventing participation or physical activity.

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: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention
intervention participants will engage in a 30-minutes VR adventure games on a non-mobilized treadmill (5-min warm-up, 20-minutes treadmill, and 5-min cool-down) for a total of 6 sessions over 6-8 weeks. Participants in the V-RATE group will be instructed to self-pace walking/running on the treadmill while they are fully immersed in the VR games for two 10-minute bouts with a complete rest interval (heart rate reduces to normal range). Participants will complete measures at baseline, post-training, and one-month follow-up.
Device: Virtual Reality-based physical activity intervention
The V-RATE intervention will be delivered through a 360-degree non-mobilized treadmill in a university clinical laboratory for 6-8-weeks (1-2 days/week, 30 minutes/session) totaling 6 sessions. The V-RATE program will be focused on creating a safe and immersive environment supportive of physical activity. The treadmill enables an individual can walk and run at self-paced speed, moving in 360-degrees (i.e., forwards, sideways, and backwards) without risk of falling. The core feature of the self-paced treadmill is a concave walking platform with an adjustable waist hardness that enables a safe, smooth, natural gait while adults with elevated BMI engage in an immersive walking and running motion. During the V-RATE intervention, participants will self-pace their locomotor action (walking/running/bending/ jumping) while they wear the VR headset and experience immersive VR adventure games using the Omniverse VR system.
No Intervention: Control
Control participants will not receive the intervention. Participants will complete measures at baseline, post-training, and one-month follow-up.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in depression from baseline to week 6-8 and one-month follow-up (Week 12)
Time Frame: Baseline, Week 6-8, Week 12
Depression will be measured by self-report using the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).
Baseline, Week 6-8, Week 12

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior change from baseline to week 8 and one-month follow-up (Week 12)
Time Frame: Baseline, Week 8, Week 24
Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior will be measured objectively using the ActiGraph GT9X accelerometers
Baseline, Week 8, Week 24
Anxiety change from baseline to week 6-8 and one-month follow-up (Week 12)
Time Frame: Baseline, post-training, Week 12
Anxiety will be measured using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI).
Baseline, post-training, Week 12
Posttraumatic Stress change from baseline to week 8 and one-month follow-up (Week 12)
Time Frame: Baseline, post-training, Week 12
Posttraumatic Stress will be measured using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-5 (PCL-5).
Baseline, post-training, Week 12
Cognitive Function change from baseline to week 8 and one-month follow-up (Week 12)
Time Frame: Baseline, post-training, Week 12
Cognitive Function will be measured via the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) to assess the participants' executive function and working memory via multitasking test and spatial working memory tests.
Baseline, post-training, Week 12
Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) change from baseline to week 8 and one-month follow-up (Week 12)
Time Frame: Baseline, Week 6-8, Week 24
Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) will be measured using the Short Form-36 Health Survey.
Baseline, Week 6-8, Week 24
BMI change from baseline to week 6-8 and one-month follow-up (Week 12)
Time Frame: Baseline, post-training, Week 12
Participants' height and weight will be measured to calculate their BMI.
Baseline, post-training, Week 12
Heart Rate Variability (SDNN, rMSSD, LF, HF) change from baseline to week 8 and one-month follow-up (Week 12)
Time Frame: Baseline, post-training, Week 12
Heart Rate Variability will be measured using ECG (electrocardiogram)-derived heart rate variability from a Polar H10 Heart Rate Monitor Chest strap and HRV-monitoring app.
Baseline, post-training, Week 12

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

The University of Texas at Arlington

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)

September 7, 2022

Primary Completion (Estimated)

August 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

August 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 28, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 28, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

October 3, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 1, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 27, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • UTexasArlington

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

Yes

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.

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