Virtual Reality-Based Posture Correction Program on Low Back Pain (VR-LBP)

May 29, 2026 updated by: Esraa Moataz Aboelyazid Deghady, Kafrelsheikh University

Effect of Virtual Reality-Based Posture Correction Program on Low Back Pain and Dynamic Balance in Desk Workers

To evaluate the effect of a virtual reality-based posture correction program on reducing low back pain intensity and improving dynamic balance in sedentary desk workers.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders among desk workers and is strongly associated with prolonged sitting, poor posture, and reduced physical activity. Extended periods of desk work contribute to biomechanical and neuromuscular changes, including decreased lumbar lordosis, reduced spinal mobility, muscle tightness, impaired trunk muscle activation, and altered postural control. These changes may lead to chronic nonspecific low back pain, functional limitations, and deficits in dynamic balance.

Postural deviations such as forward head posture, rounded shoulders, thoracic kyphosis, and pelvic misalignment are frequently observed in sedentary workers. These alterations affect spinal alignment and may impair proprioceptive input, resulting in decreased balance performance and inefficient neuromuscular control. Impaired balance and reduced sensorimotor awareness have been reported in individuals with chronic low back pain, increasing the risk of functional disability and musculoskeletal dysfunction.

Virtual reality (VR)-based rehabilitation has emerged as an innovative approach for improving postural control and reducing pain. VR systems provide real-time visual feedback and interactive task-oriented exercises that promote active participation and enhance sensorimotor retraining. Through immersive environments, VR interventions may improve trunk muscle activation, proprioceptive awareness, motor coordination, and postural stability while increasing motivation and adherence to exercise programs.

Dynamic posture correction exercises performed within a VR environment may provide additional benefits by integrating physical, cognitive, and sensory stimulation. Previous studies have demonstrated that VR-based interventions can reduce pain intensity, improve functional performance, enhance balance control, and decrease fear-avoidance behaviors associated with chronic pain conditions.

Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of a virtual reality-based posture correction program on low back pain intensity and dynamic balance in desk workers. The findings may provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of VR-based posture correction as a rehabilitation strategy for addressing musculoskeletal and balance impairments associated with prolonged sedentary work.

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

  • Egypt
      • Kafr ash Shaykh, Egypt
        • Faculty of Kafr El Sheikh Unversity

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

  • Child

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria

  • Age between 25-60 years
  • Desk workers (≥ 5 hours daily seated work)
  • Chronic nonspecific low back pain lasting > 3 months
  • Pain intensity between 2-6 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
  • No morbid obesity
  • No physical therapy within the last 3 months
  • Ability to understand and follow instructions
  • No visual or hearing impairments affecting VR use
  • Signed informed consent form

Exclusion Criteria

  • History of spinal surgery or spinal trauma
  • Neurological, neuromuscular, or vestibular disorders
  • Diabetes mellitus (Type I or II)
  • Cardiovascular or respiratory disorders
  • Thyroid dysfunction
  • Pregnancy
  • Medications affecting balance or alertness
  • Current smokers
  • Uncorrected visual impairments
  • Psychiatric disorders
  • History of frequent vertigo or cybersickness
  • Flat foot or foot deformities affecting balance
  • Polyneuropathy
  • Any condition affecting balance control
  • Participation in other exercise or rehabilitation programs
  • Inability or unwillingness to adhere to the study protocol

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: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: VR based posture correction
Participants in this group will receive a virtual reality-based posture correction program in addition to conventional physiotherapy exercises for low back pain management and balance improvement.
Device: virtual reality

Participants in the intervention group will receive a virtual reality (VR)-based training program in addition to conventional physiotherapy. The intervention will consist of 12 treatment sessions, administered 3 times per week for 4 consecutive weeks. Each session will last approximately 30-35 minutes.

The VR training will be delivered using commercially available exergaming and VR-based fitness applications, including Fit Beat Combat, Holo-point , and the EIR Training Fitness Program. These applications are designed to provide interactive, task-oriented exercises that challenge balance, coordination, postural control, and lower limb motor performance through engaging gameplay environments.

Participants will be supervised during all sessions to ensure safety and proper performance of movements, and exercise intensity will be adjusted according to the participant's tolerance and performance.
Active Comparator: pamphlet based ergonomics
Participants in this group will receive conventional physiotherapy exercises and posture correction training without virtual reality intervention.
Other: pamphlet based ergonomics

Participants in the control group will receive a standardized educational pamphlet focusing on posture correction, ergonomic principles, and recommendations for maintaining proper body mechanics during daily activities and desk work. The pamphlet includes illustrated instructions and general advice aimed at reducing musculoskeletal strain.

In addition, participants will attend a brief weekly educational and follow-up session conducted at their workplace, where key posture and ergonomic principles are reinforced and any questions are addressed.

Furthermore, participants will be added to a daily reminder group (e.g., messaging group) to receive regular prompts and reminders to adhere to the recommended posture guidelines and exercises outlined in the pamphlet throughout the 4-week intervention period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
pain intensity
Time Frame: baseline and 4 weeks
Pain intensity will be measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a 10-cm horizontal line anchored by "no pain" (0) and "worst imaginable pain" (10). Participants will indicate their perceived level of low back pain. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.
baseline and 4 weeks
functional disability
Time Frame: baseline and 4 weeks
Functional disability will be assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), a self-reported questionnaire consisting of 10 items evaluating limitations in daily activities. Total scores range from 0 to 100%, with higher scores indicating greater disability.
baseline and 4 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
dynamic balance
Time Frame: baseline and 4 weeks
Dynamic balance will be assessed using the Biodex Balance System. Balance performance will be quantified using the Overall Stability Index (OSI), Anterior-Posterior Stability Index (APSI), and Medial-Lateral Stability Index (MLSI). Lower scores indicate better postural stability and neuromuscular control.
baseline and 4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Kafrelsheikh 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)

September 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

March 15, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

March 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 22, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 29, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 4, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 4, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 29, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • VRBPCPOLBP

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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