NCT07478835

VR-Assisted Rehabilitation in Partial Supraspinatus Tears

Effects of Virtual Reality-Assisted Rehabilitation on Pain, Kinesiophobia, Quality of Life, and Supraspinatus Tendon Thickness in Patients With Partial Supraspinatus Tears: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 49 (actual)
• Sponsor: Hitit University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of virtual reality-assisted rehabilitation in patients with partial supraspinatus tendon tears. Virtual reality has emerged as a promising tool to enhance patient engagement and improve rehabilitation outcomes in musculoskeletal disorders; however, evidence in this patient population remains limited. Participants will be assigned to either a virtual reality-assisted rehabilitation group or a conventional rehabilitation group. Both groups will receive a structured physical therapy program, while the intervention group will additionally perform virtual reality-based exercises. The study will evaluate the potential benefits of virtual reality in improving clinical outcomes compared to conventional rehabilitation.

Detailed description

This study aims to investigate the effects of virtual reality-assisted rehabilitation on pain, kinesiophobia, quality of life, and supraspinatus tendon thickness in patients with partial supraspinatus tendon tears. Partial supraspinatus tears are a common cause of shoulder pain and functional limitation, often leading to decreased quality of life and increased fear of movement. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as an innovative rehabilitation tool that may enhance patient engagement and treatment adherence. This study is designed as a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality-assisted rehabilitation in patients with partial supraspinatus tendon tears. Partial supraspinatus tendon tears are a common cause of shoulder pain and functional impairment, often associated with reduced range of motion, decreased quality of life, and increased kinesiophobia. Conventional rehabilitation approaches are widely used; however, patient adherence and engagement may be limited. Participants diagnosed with partial supraspinatus tendon tears will be randomly allocated to either a virtual reality-assisted rehabilitation group or a conventional rehabilitation group. Both groups will receive a standardized physical therapy program including hot pack, therapeutic ultrasound, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. In addition, participants in the virtual reality group will perform interactive, task-oriented exercises using virtual reality applications designed to enhance motivation and active participation. The control group will perform conventional therapeutic exercises targeting shoulder mobility, strength, and function. All interventions will be applied over a structured treatment period under the supervision of a physiotherapist. Evaluations will be conducted at baseline and after completion of the intervention period. This study aims to determine whether the integration of virtual reality into conventional rehabilitation provides additional clinical benefits in terms of pain reduction, functional improvement, and patient engagement in individuals with partial supraspinatus tendon tears.

Conditions

• Partial Supraspinatus Tear
• Shoulder Pain

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	VR-assisted rehabilitation program	Participants in the experimental group received the same conventional physiotherapy program as the control group and additionally performed virtual reality (VR)-assisted exercises. A Meta Quest Pro VR headset (Meta Platforms Inc.) was used to provide an immersive virtual environment during the intervention. The system provides high-resolution optics, a wide field of view, and six degrees of freedom (6DoF) motion tracking, allowing accurate tracking of upper extremity movements. VR-based exercises were designed to promote repetitive shoulder and upper limb movements through interactive, task-oriented activities within a three-dimensional virtual environment.
BEHAVIORAL	Conventional shoulder exercise program	After completion of the standard physiotherapy modalities, participants performed a set of therapeutic exercises aimed at improving shoulder mobility and coordination of the shoulder girdle muscles

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-01-01
• Primary completion: 2025-12-20
• Completion: 2025-12-20
• First posted: 2026-03-18
• Last updated: 2026-03-23

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)