Investigating the Feasibility and Translational Therapeutic Benefits of Overground, Fully Immersive Virtual Reality (VR) Gait Rehabilitation Therapies for Individuals With Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Indiana University
Summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate a new virtual reality (VR)-based rehabilitation program designed to help individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) improve their walking abilities in real-world settings. By comparing immersive VR-assisted overground gait therapy to contemporary non-immersive, treadmill-based VR therapy (i.e., C-Mill), the investigators aim to determine its effectiveness in enhancing mobility and quality of life for TBI patients.
Description
After obtaining consent and screening, eligible participants are randomized to the treatment or control groups. First, all participants are issued a wearable tracker to gauge baseline activity for at least 5 days. During the intervention phase, participants undergo 12 treatment sessions, 2x a week for 6 weeks. Assessments are conducted at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 1-month followup.
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis: A confirmed diagnosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI) or stroke, confirmed by the referring neurologist. * Cognitive Function: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score greater than 24, indicating sufficient cognitive function to participate in the study. * Exercise Clearance: Approval from a neurologist for participation in exercise-based interventions. * Rehabilitation Need: Demonstrates a need for functional rehabilitation. * Recent Therapy: Participants should not have received physical therapy (PT) within the last month. * Consent: Must be able to provid…
Interventions
- DeviceC-Mill VR+ by Motek
Participants perform treadmill-assisted walking while interacting with non-immersive, game-like environments displayed on screens attached to the treadmill.
- DeviceWalk-over-Ground
This intervention utilizes the HTC VIVE Pro 2 system for a realistic, fully immersive VR-assisted overground gait therapy. The immersive VR environment is designed to mimic real-world scenarios and challenges, enhancing the rehabilitation process by engaging patients in naturalistic gait activities.
Location
- Indiana University Health, Neurorehabilitation & RoboticsIndianapolis, Indiana