Virtual Reality for Pain and Well-Being in Older Adults

Sponsor
Laval University
Study ID
NCT07607899
Status
Not Yet Recruiting

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Conditions

  • Chronic Pain
  • Kinesiophobia (Fear of Movement)

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
65 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Virtual Reality-Supported Rehabilitation — DEVICE
    Immersive virtual reality rehabilitation sessions delivered under clinician supervision, using guided motor imagery, immersive natural environments, and graded interactive movement adapted to participant capacity and goals. Following completion of the educational session, participants engage in immersive virtual reality rehabilitation delivered under clinician supervision. The virtual reality component uses a head-mounted display to immerse par
  • Pain Education — BEHAVIORAL
    A standardized single-session, two-hour online pain neuroscience education course delivered by a trained clinician, including education on chronic pain neurophysiology and self-management strategies.
  • Usual Care — OTHER
    Participants continue to receive their usual care throughout the study period.

Study Details

Chronic pain is common among adults aged 65 and older and can reduce mobility, independence, mood, and quality of life. Many older adults also develop a fear of movement because they worry that physical activity will increase their pain or cause injury. This fear can lead to reduced activity, physical deconditioning, and further loss of independence. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and potential impact of Moving Without Fear or Pain, a program combining structured pain education (Empowered Relief) with immersive virtual reality rehabilitation to gradually reintroduce movement in a safe and engaging way. Empowered Relief is a single-session, two-hour online pain education class delivered by a trained health professional. It explains how chronic pain affects the brain and nervous system and teaches strategies to calm the nervous system, manage pain flare-ups, reduce pain-related worry and catastrophizing, and increase confidence in movement and daily activities. The virtual reality intervention includes up to eight individualized sessions over approximately one month. Sessions last 5 to 30 minutes and are supervised by a trained clinician. Participants wear a virtual reality headset and are immersed in calming or engaging environments, such as nature settings. Depending on their comfort and abilities, sessions may begin with passive guided motor imagery and progress to active movement within interactive virtual environments. Some applications allow participants to control movement in the virtual world through gentle physical activity, such as stepping or upper-body movement. The intervention is personalized to each participant's physical capacity, preferences, and rehabilitation goals. The aim is to reduce fear of movement, increase confidence, and promote safe re-engagement in physical activity. In this pilot randomized controlled trial, 24 older adults with chronic pain will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: 1) Experimental Group: Participants will receive the Empowered Relief pain education course, usual care, and up to eight immersive virtual reality rehabilitation sessions. 2) Control Group: Participants will receive the Empowered Relief pain education course and usual care, without virtual reality sessions. The findings will inform a larger future study.

Key Dates

First listed
May 26, 2026
Start date
Jun 30, 2026
Status verified
Jun 2026
Primary completion
Mar 31, 2027
Completion
Mar 31, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment
24 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: Virtual Reality, Pain Education and Usual Care
    Participants receive the Empowered Relief pain education session and usual care, plus up to eight individualized immersive virtual reality rehabilitation sessions delivered over approximately one month. Virtual reality sessions are supervised by trained clinicians and may include guided motor imagery, immersive nature environments, and graded interactive movement adapted to participant capacity and goals.
  • Active Comparator: Pain Education and Usual Care
    Participants receive the Empowered Relief pain education session and continue usual care. They do not receive immersive virtual reality sessions during the study period.

Primary Outcome Measure

Change in Kinesiophobia as Measured by the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-11) [ Time Frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) to post-intervention (after completion of the 8 rehabilitation sessions, approximately 4 weeks) ]

Central Contacts

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