Effects of VR Training on Balance and Fall Risk of Patients With COPD

March 16, 2026 updated by: Riphah International University

Effects of Virtual Reality Training on Balance and Fall Risk of Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The aim of this study is to determine whether Virtual Reality (VR) training has significant effects on balance and fall risk of patients with COPD, with a focus on the patient group (GOLD STANDARD I & II). Additionally, the study determines whether VR training is a reliable substitute for traditional physical therapy balance.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the forth leading cause of mortality worldwide. COPD often impairs balance due to decreased physical activity, muscle weakness, and compromised respiratory function. Virtual Reality training addresses these issues by offering an immersive and engaging environment that enhances patient motivation and adherence to rehabilitation. The technology allows for personalized and controlled balance exercises, progressively increasing the difficulty to match the patient's skill level and providing real-time feedback. By integrating cognitive and motor tasks, VR promotes a comprehensive approach to balance training, improving sensory integration and postural control.

Research indicates that VR training can enhance both static and dynamic balance, helping patients maintain stability in various conditions. It improves the integration of sensory inputs crucial for balance, while also contributing to muscle strength and endurance. This results in a reduction in fall frequency, as patients become more adept at managing balance and are less likely to fall during daily activities. Additionally, VR training teaches specific fall prevention strategies and boosts patient confidence, which further mitigates the fear of falling-a common issue among COPD patients.

Incorporating VR training into physical therapy programs for COPD patients can be highly beneficial. Its ability to provide engaging and customizable exercises makes it a valuable tool in addressing balance issues and reducing fall risks. However, it is essential to ensure that VR training is conducted under proper supervision to avoid potential accidents, especially in patients with severe COPD or additional health concerns. Overall, VR training represents a significant advancement in rehabilitation, offering a novel and effective approach to managing balance and fall risks in COPD patients. The purpose of study is to determine whether VR training has significant effects on balance and fall risk of patients with COPD (GOLD standard stage I & II).

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

50

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 Locations

  • Pakistan
    • Punjab Province
      • Rawalpindi, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 46300
        • Railway General Hospital

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

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Both Male and Female
  • Diagnosed with mild to moderate COPD (GOLD stages I-II)
  • Age between 40-65 years
  • BBS score above 35 will be included.
  • COPD patients with oxygen saturation of above 88%.
  • Patients able to follow instructions / commands.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Recent exacerbation of COPD requiring hospitalization within last 4 weeks.
  • Diagnosed with severe cognitive impairments.
  • Previous experience with VR-based rehabilitation.
  • Use of medication that could affect exercise response.

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: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Virtual Reality Based Training
Virtual reality (VR) based balance training utilizes immersive digital environments to enhance balance and stability through interactive and engaging exercises. Patients wear VR headsets that create realistic scenarios where they perform various balance tasks, such as navigating virtual obstacles or maintaining stability on unstable surfaces. This technology offers the advantage of providing controlled, adjustable challenges that can be tailored to the patient's specific needs and progress. VR training often incorporates real-time feedback, which helps patients improve their balance in a motivating and dynamic setting.
Other: Assigned Intervention for VR Training
In VR training patients use VR headsets to engage in virtual environments for 8 weeks where they perform exercises designed to enhance balance, coordination, and strength. Simultaneously, the VR platform incorporate pulmonary exercises that focus on improving breathing techniques, lung capacity, and overall respiratory health. Patients will engage in 3 sessions per week with total time duration of 45 to 60 minutes. VR-based training provides real-time feedback and adapts to the patient's progress, offering a comprehensive approach to rehabilitation that addresses both balance and pulmonary function in a motivating and controlled manner.
Active Comparator: Traditional Physical Therapy Based Training:
Traditional physical therapy-based balance training focuses on improving stability and preventing falls through a variety of exercises and techniques. It typically begins with a comprehensive assessment to identify balance issues and set individualized goals. The training includes static exercises like single-leg stands, dynamic activities such as walking on uneven surfaces, and strengthening and flexibility exercises to enhance muscle control and range of motion. Coordination and functional training, including gait and daily activity simulation, are also integral. Additionally, patients receive education on fall prevention strategies and home safety. Regular monitoring ensures that the program is adjusted to the patient's progress and ongoing needs, ultimately enhancing balance and reducing fall risk.
Other: Assigned Intervention for Traditional Physical Therapy Training
In Traditional physical therapy balance training for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) involves exercises designed to improve stability, strength, and coordination for duration of 8 weeks. These exercises, such as static balance tasks, dynamic movement drills, and strength training, help address the balance deficits often seen in COPD patients due to muscle weakness and reduced physical activity. Additionally, pulmonary effects are managed through breathing exercises such as deep breathing and pursed lip breathing that enhance respiratory functions, improve lung capacity and efficiency.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Balance
Time Frame: 8 weeks
Berg Balance Scale (BBS) is used to assess balance. It consists of a 14 item that evaluates a persons performance on particular functional task.
8 weeks
Functional Capacity
Time Frame: 8 weeks
The Six Minute Walk Test (SMWT) is a widely used tool for assessing functional exercise capacity, especially in populations with pulmonary and cardiovascular conditions. The test is performed under controlled conditions with the patient encouraged to perform at their own pace and take breaks if needed. the distance covered is measured and any change in condition or symptoms are noted.
8 weeks
Peak Expiratory Flow rate
Time Frame: 8 weeks
Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) measured through digital spirometer. Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) measured through digital spirometer. Three zones of measurement are commonly used to interpret peak flow rates. Normal value of PEFR is (80-100%). Green zone indicates 80 to 100 percent of the usual or normal peak flow reading, yellow zone indicates 50 to 79 percent of the usual or normal peak flow readings, and red zone indicates less than 50 percent of the usual or normal peak flow readings
8 weeks
Forced Vital Capacity
Time Frame: 8 weeks
Forced vital capacity (FVC) measured through digital spirometer. If the value of FVC is within 80% of the reference value, the results are considered normal.
8 weeks
Forced Expiratory Volume in 1sec
Time Frame: 8 weeks
Forced expiratory volume in 1sec (FEV1) measured through digital spirometer. If the value of FEV1 is within 80% of the reference value, the results are considered normal.
8 weeks
FVC/FEV1 ratio
Time Frame: 8 weeks
The FVC/FEV1 ratio is crucial for differentiating between obstructive and restrictive lung patterns. It helps in diagnosing conditions like asthma and COPD, and in monitoring the progression or improvement of these diseases. In clinical practice, this ratio is used alongside other spirometric measurements and patient history to provide a comprehensive assessment of lung function.
8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Riphah International University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Suman Sheraz, PhD, Riphah International University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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)

June 12, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

November 30, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

December 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 18, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 18, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

September 19, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 17, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 16, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • Syeda Marium Nadeem

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

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.

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