Virtual Activities of Living for Occupational Rehabilitation (VALOR)

Virtual Activities of Living for Occupational Rehabilitation (VALOR)

Duke University will serve as the clinical research site for the Phase II RCT of the VALOR system, which enables telehealth delivery of evidence-based upper extremity (UE) stroke therapy in a patient's home using immersive VR headset technology for guided practice of activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental ADLs (IADLs). The study compares VALOR Home Exercise Program (HEP) to Usual Care Treatment (UCT) in adults with stroke-related UE impairment.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Stroke; Rehabilitation; Activities of Daily Living; Virtual Reality; Occupational Therapy
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: VALOR Home Exercise Program (HEP); Other: Usual Care Treatment (UCT) Control

Detailed Description

Duke University will serve as the clinical research site for the Phase II RCT, under the direction of Jody Feld, PT, DPT, PhD, and Assistant Professor in Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Department of Neurology. The team will be supported by an experienced Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC), an experienced OT research advisor and the OT staff of Duke Health.

The study design is a single site rater-blinded randomized trial comparing the effects of a VALOR HEP to a UCT control condition. Up to 48 adults with a history of a right or left hemispheric stroke that affects normal hand function will be enrolled in the study. Half will be randomized to each condition. Following administration of informed consent, participants will be scheduled for a pre-assessment outpatient visit involving administration of a battery of gold-standard UE function tests by a blinded study therapist. These include: the FMUE, the WMFT, and the MAL. In this initial visit, the therapist will also perform a headset fitting and screening for sensory or behavioral concerns. Subjects will then be randomized to either the VALOR HEP or UCT control group.

Subjects assigned to VALOR HEP will participate in an additional outpatient visit with a non-blinded study therapist in which the subjects are introduced to and trained on independent use of the VALOR system. Upon completion of this visit, subjects will be provided with a VALOR system to take home. VALOR HEP assigned subjects will subsequently be asked to employ the VALOR system for UE practice at home with 4 sessions per week, 45 minutes/session, over an 8-week period. See Potential Risks for details regarding patient monitoring, mitigations, and contingencies for potential VR sickness. Patients who do not tolerate the VR headset will be offered a PC version of the system. Patients in the UCT group will not receive any treatment through the study and will continue to receive any previously prescribed therapy services.

Every week during the 8-week VALOR HEP participation period, a non-blinded study therapist will review patient progress using the VALOR provider dashboard web application. Every other week during the 8-week VALOR HEP participation period (4 times total), a non-blinded study therapist will conduct a telehealth visit (e.g., Zoom Health) with the patient to review progress, set goals, and address other concerns. This includes completion of the SSQ to assess potential cybersickness. In the final telehealth visit, participants will be asked to respond to questionnaire-based instruments including the System Usability Scale (SUS) instrument, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and a narrative format patient interview. At the end of the 8-week participation, all subjects (both VALOR HEP and UCT) will return for a post-assessment visit during which a blinded therapist will administer the same battery of tests used in pre-assessment. All subjects will additionally be asked to return for a follow-up assessment approximately 3 months after post-assessment, during which a blinded therapist will administer the same battery of tests used in pre- and post-assessment. To promote equipoise, participants in the UCT group will be offered training and free access to the VALOR software system following completion of the study.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 48
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Richard Adams; Phone Number: 434-825-3435; Email: adams@bainet.com

Study Locations

• United States
  • North Carolina
    • Durham, North Carolina, United States, 27705
      • Duke University
      • Contact: Jody Feld, DPT, PhD; Phone Number: 919-681-1979; Email: jody.feld@duke.edu
      • Contact: Mary-Margaret Remchak, Ph.D.; Phone Number: 919-681-0635; Email: mary-margaret.remchak@duke.edu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Criteria for inclusion:

1. Participant has had a right or left hemispheric stroke affecting normal hand function.
2. At least 3 months have passed since the last stroke.
3. Participant has sufficient active finger flexion at the MCP joint in at least one finger to be detected by visual observation by a study therapist.
4. Participant has visual acuity with corrective lenses of 20/50 or better.
5. Participant must have active movement against gravity of at least 30 degrees shoulder flexion, 45 degrees elbow flexion, elbow extension to within 30 degrees of full extension, and 15 degrees shoulder internal and external rotation.
6. In the opinion of a study therapist, participant can independently and safely use the system at home or has an at-home caregiver who is willing and able to assist.
7. In the opinion of a study therapist, participant has a suitable and safe space in their home for using the VALOR system.
8. Participant is willing and able to provide informed consent.

Criteria for exclusion:

1. Withholding or withdrawal of consent by the participant.
2. Inability to understand and follow verbal directions.
3. Determination by the Principal Investigator that participation would result in overexertion or significant discomfort or pain.
4. A psychological diagnosis that in the determination of the Principal Investigator could significantly impact subject's participation or that could be aggravated by study participation (Principal Investigator will consult with candidate's personal physician as appropriate).
5. Determination by the Principal Investigator that participation would result in significant agitation or elevated stress.
6. Visual field deficit in either eye that impairs the ability to view the VR display.
7. Significant contractures of the muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, or skin that restrict normal upper extremity movement.
8. More than mild tone/spasticity (measured on modified Ashworth, 5-point scale);
9. Severe pre-stroke co-morbidities, such as cardiovascular, neurological, orthopedic, or rheumatoid impairments before stroke that may interfere with task performance.
10. Severe sensory deficits from the involved UE; or
11. Hemispatial neglect that impairs the ability to process and perceive visual stimuli provided through the VR display.

As the system will be adaptable to a wide range of hand dexterity, no restriction will be made for fine control of digits. Patients will not be excluded due to inability to use the VR headset. If at any time the study therapist, in consultation with the Duke PI, determines the patient is not tolerating VR headset use, the patient will be given the option to use a non-immersive version of the VALOR system which employs a TV monitor and depth sensor in lieu of the headset. Please see Potential Risks section for additional details on controls and mitigations for potential cyber sickness.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: VALOR Home Exercise Program (HEP); The VALOR HEP will employ the Phase II-developed VR software for practice of ADL and IADLs with a commercial VR headset (Meta Quest). Independent at-home sessions will include completion of multiple activities targeting specific gross and fine motor skills. Patients will receive instruction on the VALOR system and HEP protocol during an initial outpatient visit, during which a study therapist will verify the patient's ability to safely and successfully use the system. An additional outpatient visit may be conducted if necessary to achieve proficiency. Participants will then be asked to employ the system for UE practice at home 45 minutes/day, 4 days/week over an 8-week period. Once per week, a study therapist will use a secure web application to remotely review adherence, dosage, and performance; and adjust the treatment plan as needed. Every other week, a study therapist will conduct a synchronous telehealth visit with the patient to verify health status, review progress, and update.	Device: VALOR Home Exercise Program (HEP); The VALOR HEP will employ the Phase II-developed VR software for practice of ADL and IADLs with a commercial VR headset (Meta Quest). Independent at-home sessions will include completion of multiple activities targeting specific gross and fine motor skills. Patients will receive instruction on the VALOR system and HEP protocol during an initial outpatient visit, during which a study therapist will verify the patient's ability to safely and successfully use the system. An additional outpatient visit may be conducted if necessary to achieve proficiency. Participants will then be asked to employ the system for UE practice at home 45 minutes/day, 4 days/week over an 8-week period. Once per week, a study therapist will use a secure web application to remotely review adherence, dosage, and performance; and adjust the treatment plan as needed. Every other week, a study therapist will conduct a synchronous telehealth visit with the patient to verify health status, review progress, and update.
Active Comparator: Usual Care Treatment (UCT) Control; Participants assigned to the UCT group will be followed as they continue to receive their previously prescribed therapy services. These subjects will not receive any treatment services through the study as UCT group participants. Every other week, a study therapist will contact UCT group subjects to verify health status and collect information on other therapy services the patient is receiving. To promote equipoise, patients in the UCT group will be provided free access to the VALOR HEP following completion of the control protocol.	Other: Usual Care Treatment (UCT) Control; Participants assigned to the UCT group will be followed as they continue to receive their previously prescribed therapy services. These subjects will not receive any treatment services through the study as UCT group participants. Every other week, a study therapist will contact UCT group subjects to verify health status and collect information on other therapy services the patient is receiving. To promote equipoise, patients in the UCT group will be provided free access to the VALOR HEP following completion of the control protocol.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity (FMUE)	The FMUE subscale incorporates 33 items relevant to shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist, hand, and grasp function. Individual movements associated with specific motor functions are scored using a 3-point ordinal scale (0, 1, or 2), creating a possible range of 0 to 66 points. A higher score represents better motor function.	baseline, post-treatment (baseline + 8 weeks), follow-up (3 months post-treatment)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT)	The test consists of 15 motor tasks scored both for time and quality of movement. WMFT-TIME is a quantitative measure calculated using the average time to complete the tasks. Lower WMFT-TIME represents better function. The WMFT Functional Assessment (WMFT-FA) is an observational assessment of movement quality and scored using a ordinal rating scale that ranges from 0 to 5. A total WMFT-FA score is calculated by taking the average over all tasks. A higher WMFT-FA score represents better function.	baseline, post-treatment (baseline + 8 weeks), follow-up (3 months post-treatment)
Motor Activity Log (MAL)	The MAL is a self-assessment of use of the stroke affected arm in 30 daily activities in the client's real-life experience. The amount and quality of use is graded on a 6 level Likert scale. A total score is calculated by taking the average over all activities. A higher score represents better use/quality.	baseline, post-treatment (baseline + 8 weeks), follow-up (3 months post-treatment)
Adherence metrics	Self-reported log of frequency (sessions completed/week) and duration (time using system/week). Higher frequency and duration values indicate better adherence.	weekly (during the 8-week intervention period)
System Usability Scale (SUS)	A widely-accepted Likert-scale instrument for assessing the usability of systems and software. SUS yields a score ranging from 0 to 100. Higher score indicates better usability.	post-treatment (baseline + 8 weeks)
Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)	Likert-scale instrument supporting assessment of the relationship between patient perception, behavioral preferences, socio-demographic factors, and system usage. There are 32 questions. Responses are coded as: 1 = Strongly Disagree, 2 = Disagree, 3 = Agree, 4 = Strongly Agree. The theoretical range is thus [32, 128]. Higher scores indicate greater acceptance.	post-treatment (baseline + 8 weeks)
Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ)	A self-report Likert instrument assessing the severity of cybersickness experienced by the users of virtual reality systems including nausea-, oculomotor-, and disorientation-related symptoms. A SSQ Total Severity (TS) score is computed as the sum of all weighted symptom contributions × 3.74. TS score has a theoretical range of 0 to 235.62. Lower scores indicate less cybersickness.	weekly (during the 8-week intervention period)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Barron Associates, Inc.
• Collaborators: Duke University

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• ClinicalTrials.gov

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): June 15, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 29, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 23, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 26, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): March 4, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 27, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 22, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Telehealth; Occupational Therapy; Virtual Reality; Upper Extremity; Activities of Daily Living; Stroke Rehabilitation; Hand Function; Hemiplegia; Fugl-Meyer Assessment; Home Exercise Program; Wolf Motor Function Test; Motor Activity Log
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neurologic Manifestations; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Paralysis; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Stroke; Hemiplegia
• Other Study ID Numbers: VALOR; R44HD107718 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

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.: No