NCT05527171

Virtual Reality Mindfulness Meditation After ACL Reconstruction

Virtual Reality Mindfulness Meditation in Patients After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 48 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 14 Years – 25 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

To evaluate the effect of virtual reality mindfulness meditation on patients after ACLR, the investigators will determine the effect of virtual reality mindfulness meditation to 1) decrease self-reported injury-related fear, 2) improve poor jump-landing movement patterns, and 3) improve brain activity in women 1 to 5 years post-ACLR when compared to a virtual reality sham group.

Detailed description

Injury-related fear after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury significantly contributes to decreased return to sport, decreased physical activity engagement, and increased ACL reinjury risk in previously high functioning, physically active individuals. Injury-related fear is also associated with poor jump-landing movement patterns in patients after ACL reconstruction (ACLR). Unfortunately, current rehabilitation practices do not specifically address injury-related fear in patients after ACLR. Virtual reality mindfulness meditation is a mental practice that involves focusing the mind on experiences in the present moment and has been used to address depression, anxiety, and chronic musculoskeletal pain. To evaluate the effect of virtual reality mindfulness meditation on patients after ACLR, the investigators will determine the effect of virtual reality mindfulness meditation to 1) decrease self-reported injury-related fear, 2) improve poor jump-landing movement patterns, and 3) improve brain activity in women 6 months to 10 years post-ACLR when compared to a virtual reality sham group. Patients in the intervention group will complete 8-weeks of virtual reality mindfulness meditation + an advanced rehabilitation training program. Patients in the sham group will complete 8-weeks of the virtual reality sham + an advanced rehabilitation training program. The central hypothesis is that women 6 months to 10 years post ACLR who undergo virtual reality mindfulness meditation will demonstrate decreased injury-related fear, improved jump-landing movement patterns, and improved brain activity.

Conditions

• Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Virtual Reality Mindfulness Meditation	Participants will be immersed in a virtual environment of their choosing. While in the virtual environment, participants will follow a guided mindfulness meditation script. Participants will complete the intervention 3 times a week over the course of 8-weeks.
BEHAVIORAL	Virtual Reality Sham	Participants will be immersed in a virtual environment of their choosing, such as at a beach, forest, or lake.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-09-05
• Primary completion: 2026-06-30
• Completion: 2026-06-30
• First posted: 2022-09-02
• Last updated: 2025-04-16

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States