RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Virtual Reality and Field Training to Enhance Community Walking After Stroke

This study, for people who have had a stroke, is testing a new way to help them walk more easily and confidently in their local community. Many stroke survivors find it difficult to get around outside after rehabilitation, so this research explores a four-week programme. It combines virtual reality (VR) training, where participants wear special goggles to practice in a simulated environment like a shopping centre, with real-world practice supervised by family or carers. The aim is to see if this combined training can improve walking ability, balance, and how much people take part in community activities. Researchers also want to understand if different factors, like a person's current walking ability or vision, affect how well the training works.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

McGill University

Enrolment target

Start

01 Apr 2021

Estimated completion

31 Dec 2026

Stroke

What is this study about?

When people have a stroke, it can affect their ability to walk and get around, especially in busy places like shops or streets. While rehabilitation helps, many still find it hard to feel fully independent and confident when walking in their community. This study is testing a new, carefully designed programme that aims to make this easier.

The programme combines two main types of training. Firstly, there's virtual reality (VR) training. Participants will wear special goggles and use controllers to interact with a virtual world that looks like a shopping mall and surrounding streets. They'll practice walking through different situations that gradually become more challenging. This VR training will take place in a clinic and will be supervised. Secondly, there will be 'field training,' which means practicing walking skills in real-life settings, supervised by a family member or carer. The idea is that practicing in both a safe virtual environment and the real world will help people learn and get better at managing daily walking challenges.

Over four weeks, participants will have three VR training sessions at the clinic each week, plus two supervised practice sessions in their community. Before the training, immediately after, and at a later follow-up, researchers will check how well people are walking, their balance, and how much they feel able to take part in community activities. They will also look at whether the training was easy to stick to, safe, and enjoyable. This will help them understand how effective this new approach is and who might benefit from it the most.

Key takeaways

Tests a new method using virtual reality and outdoor practice for stroke survivors.
Aims to improve walking, balance, and community participation.
Involves a 4-week programme with clinic-based VR and supervised outdoor training.
Focuses on people who had a stroke 9-24 months ago and have some walking difficulties.
No new medications are involved, only training.
Participants can leave the study at any time.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for men and women aged between 40 and 74 years old who have had a stroke between 9 and 24 months ago. This means your stroke happened a while ago, but not too long to cause other problems from lack of movement. You should also have good eyesight and hearing, or wear glasses/hearing aids that correct any problems.

To be included, you need to have some weakness on one side of your body (hemiparesis) that's not too severe. You should be able to walk by yourself, with or without a walking stick or frame, for at least one minute, but your current walking speed should be a bit slower than what's needed for things like shopping or crossing the road. Your memory and thinking skills should be mostly unaffected, scored at 22 or more out of 30 on a standard test, and any visual problems should be mild or moderate.

You won't be able to take part if you have other health conditions that make walking difficult, or issues with your vision that would interfere with the study. You also need to be well enough to exercise, and a doctor would need to confirm this.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 40 and 74 years old?
Did your stroke happen between 9 and 24 months ago?
Can you walk independently, with or without a walking aid, for at least one minute?
Do you have good or corrected vision and hearing?
Are your memory and thinking skills generally good (not severely affected by stroke)?
Do you have medical clearance from your doctor to exercise?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you join this study, your involvement will last for a total of four weeks of training, with assessments before and after. You will attend the clinic for supervised virtual reality (VR) training sessions three times per week. Additionally, you will practice community walking skills in real-life settings twice a week, supervised by a family member or carer. Before the training starts, you will have two assessment appointments to measure your walking, balance, and how much you currently get involved in community activities. You will also have assessments straight after the four-week training programme, and at a follow-up appointment later on. No specific medications are part of this study, as it focuses on exercise and training. The total duration of your active participation, including assessments and the four weeks of training, will involve several visits over a period of a few months for initial assessments, training, and follow-up checks.

Potential risks and benefits

Participating in this study might offer potential benefits by helping you improve your walking, balance, and confidence in getting around your community after a stroke. However, there's no guarantee that you will personally benefit from the training. Potential risks are expected to be low, as the exercises are supervised, but as with any physical activity, there's a small chance of muscle soreness or discomfort. The study aims to be safe, and we will monitor you closely. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (2)

Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital
Verified postcode
Laval, Canada· Recruiting
Institut de réadaptation en déficience physique de Québec
Verified postcode
Québec, Canada· Not yet recruiting

Common questions

What is 'Virtual Reality' in this study?

Virtual Reality (VR) uses special goggles to create a computer-generated world, like a shopping centre, that you can look around and interact with as if you were there. It helps you practice walking in different situations in a safe environment.

What happens during the 'field training'?

Field training involves practicing walking skills in real-life community settings, like your local street or park. This will be supervised by a family member or carer who will help you apply what you learned in VR to the real world.

How long will I be in the study?

The main training programme lasts for four weeks. However, you'll have assessment appointments before the training starts, immediately after it finishes, and a follow-up assessment sometime later. So your total involvement will span a few months.

Will this involve taking new medication?

No, this study does not involve any new medications. It focuses on physical training through virtual reality and real-world practice.

What if I decide I don't want to continue?

You are free to stop participating in the study at any time, for any reason, without telling us why. This will not affect any of your regular medical care.

How to find out more

Anouk Lamontagne, PhD

anouk.lamontagne@mcgill.ca 514-938-4397 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.