NCT07528599

Virtual Reality-based Motor Imagery in Patients With Fibromyalgia

The Effect of Virtual Reality-Based Motor Imagery on Pain, Psychological Status and Quality of Life in Fibromyalgia Patients

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 28 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Inonu University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 60 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study investigated the effects of a virtual reality-based motor imagery intervention integrated into a conventional exercise programme on pain outcomes (pain intensity, central sensitisation, pressure pain threshold, galvanic skin response, pain catastrophising), quality of life, sleep quality, fatigue, psychological outcomes (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), imagery ability and patient satisfaction.

Detailed description

The study will include individuals aged 18-60 who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups using a sealed-envelope method: the traditional exercise + virtual reality-assisted motor imagery group, or the traditional exercise + non-virtual reality motor imagery group. In both groups, participants will undergo a traditional rehabilitation programme three days a week under the supervision of a physiotherapist. In the experimental group, three virtual reality games targeting the upper extremities, trunk and lower extremities will be shown for three minutes each, followed by two minutes of motor imagery. In the control group, the same protocol will be carried out via a monitor without virtual reality. All assessments will be conducted before treatment and at the end of 6 weeks. Pain intensity, Visual Analogue Scale; central sensitivity, Central Sensitivity Inventory; pain catastrophising, Pain Catastrophising Scale; general quality of life, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire; pressure pain threshold, algometer; sleep quality, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; fatigue severity, Fatigue Severity Scale; psychological state, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; patient satisfaction, Patient's General Impression of Change Scale; and imagery ability, Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire-10.

Conditions

• Fibromyalgia Patients

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	conventional exercise + motor imagery without virtual reality	Participants in the control groups will undergo a structured conventional exercise programme under the supervision of a physiotherapist, three days a week for six weeks. The conventional exercise programme has been designed to include stretching, postural control and muscle strengthening components. Each session will last approximately 30 minutes. The intensity and difficulty level of the exercises will be gradually increased every two weeks and progressed in a controlled manner. In the control group, recorded versions of virtual reality games will be presented via a standard monitor screen without the use of a virtual reality headset. Participants will watch each video for three minutes and will then be asked to visualise the same movements for two minutes. The total duration of the motor imagery intervention in the control group will also be 15 minutes.
OTHER	conventional exercise + motor imagery with virtual reality	A structured conventional exercise programme will be implemented three days a week for six weeks. The conventional exercise programme has been designed to include components of stretching, postural control and muscle strengthening. Each session will last approximately 30 minutes. The intensity and difficulty level of the exercises will be gradually increased every two weeks and progressed in a controlled manner. In the experimental group, motor imagery exercises will be performed by creating a virtual environment using the provided virtual reality headset. In this group, a total of three different virtual reality games targeting the upper limbs, trunk and lower limbs will be used. Each game will be viewed for three minutes via the virtual reality headset, after which participants will be asked to mentally visualise the relevant movements for two minutes. The total duration of the motor imagery intervention is planned to be 15 minutes.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-03-25
• Primary completion: 2026-10-01
• Completion: 2026-12-01
• First posted: 2026-04-14
• Last updated: 2026-04-14

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)