Effect of Virtual Reality Mediated Gamified Rehabilitation in Children With Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy

August 5, 2026 updated by: Hafsah Arshad, Ibadat International University, Islamabad

Effect of Virtual Reality Mediated Gamified Rehabilitation Program in Children With Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy

This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a Virtual Reality (VR)-mediated gamified rehabilitation program compared with conventional physical therapy in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. Forty-two children aged 7-15 years with Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) Levels II and III were recruited from Rafsan Neuro Rehab Center, Peshawar. Participants were randomly allocated into two equal groups. The intervention group received VR-based gamified rehabilitation using Xbox Kinect along with physiotherapy, while the control group received conventional physiotherapy only. Both groups completed 18 treatment sessions over six weeks. Outcome measures included the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS), Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). The findings demonstrated that VR-mediated rehabilitation significantly improved functional mobility, balance, and trunk control compared with conventional therapy. The study concludes that VR-based rehabilitation is an effective, motivating, and clinically useful intervention for children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy and may improve rehabilitation outcomes and functional independence.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Refer to complete thesis introduction, methodology and protocol.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

42

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

  • Pakistan
      • Islamabad, Pakistan, 47000
        • Recruiting
        • Ibadat International University
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Tazveena IIUI, MS (Paeds)

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

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosed with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.
  • Age between 7-15 years.
  • GMFCS Level II or III.
  • Male and female participants.
  • Able to follow verbal instructions. Exclusion Criteria
  • Other neurological disorders.
  • Visual or hearing impairment.
  • Other types of cerebral palsy.
  • Severe cardiac disease.
  • Orthopedic surgery within previous six months.
  • Recent Botulinum toxin injection.
  • Children taking antispastic or antiepileptic medication.
  • Uncooperative participants.

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
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Virtual Reality Mediated Gamified Rehabilitation Program
Virtual Reality Mediated Gamified Rehabilitation Program using Xbox Kinect combined with conventional physiotherapy.
Other: Experimental Group
Virtual Reality Mediated Gamified Rehabilitation Program using Xbox Kinect combined with conventional physiotherapy.
Other Names:
  • Virtual Reality Mediated Gamified Rehabilitation Program
Active Comparator: Conventional Physiotherapy Program
Other: Control
Conventional Physiotherapy Program
Other Names:
  • Conventional Physiotherapy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Timed Up and Go Test
Time Frame: At baseline and after 6 weeks
Timed Up and Go Test score measures the time in seconds it takes a person to stand up from a chair, walk 3 meters (10 feet), turn around, walk back, and sit down.
At baseline and after 6 weeks
Pediatric Balance Scale
Time Frame: baseline and after 6 weeks
Pediatric Balance Scale examines functional balance in the context of everyday tasks in the pediatric population. It consists of 14 tasks.
baseline and after 6 weeks
Trunk Impairment Scale
Time Frame: Baseline and after 6 weeks
Trunk Impairment Scale is a 17-item physical test. It measures trunk motor control, balance, and coordination in a sitting position.
Baseline and after 6 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Gross Motor Function Classification System
Time Frame: Baseline and after 6 weeks
Gross Motor Function Classification System is a five-level tool used to describe the self-initiated movement and mobility of children and youth with cerebral palsy.
Baseline and after 6 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Ibadat International University, Islamabad

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Hafsah Arshad, Ibadat International University, Islamabad

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)

March 3, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

August 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

September 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 31, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 31, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

August 5, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 10, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 5, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • IIUI/RERC/ADT/2026/02/243

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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