SPIN-VR
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major global challenge, significantly impairing function and quality of life and ranking among the top causes of musculoskeletal pain and disability. Physiotherapy-based exercise is a key non-pharmacological intervention for managing OA pain, yet many patients struggle to stay motivated with their exercise routines.
Dr Al-Amri has developed an innovative, affordable virtual reality-based home physiotherapy system designed to help people stay motivated and consistently follow their physiotherapy regimen at home. This system creates a personalized course of physiotherapy exercises tailored to the user’s abilities and goals, adapting the exercises based on the user’s progress. It combines body-worn sensors with virtual reality games on a laptop, allowing users to control a character on the screen as they perform the exercises.
While this virtual reality system has been tested in a university setting, we need to determine its effectiveness in a home environment. Before launching a large-scale study, we have received funding from Versus Arthritis to first assess the feasibility and acceptability of the virtual reality physiotherapy system at home to see if a future study is viable. The project has two work packages.
Funding
This project is funded by a Versus Arthritis ‘Accelerating New Treatments’ grant, as part of the Musculoskeletal Translational Research Collaboration.
Research Plan
Work Package 1
To ensure the training documents for our virtual reality physiotherapy system are user-friendly and effective, we recruited individuals with knee pain and physiotherapists for feedback sessions. These sessions, which include one-on-one workshops and group interviews, focused on evaluating the usability of the training manual for setting up and using the VR system at home. Participants helped identifying common questions and challenges. The insights gained from these patient and public feedback sessions used to refine and improve our resources before moving on to Work Package 2.
Work Package 2
In collaboration with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, we are aiming to recruit 50 patients with knee osteoarthritis who have been referred to a physiotherapy clinic. Participants will visit the clinic for an initial assessment and then be randomly assigned to one of two groups: the virtual reality system or standard physiotherapy care.
Participants in the virtual reality group will receive instructions on how to use the system and be provided with the necessary equipment to take home. Those in the standard care group will continue with their usual NHS physiotherapy regimen. Both groups will have access to additional physiotherapeutic support as needed.
The intervention period will last for 12 weeks, during which participants will follow their assigned therapy. We will collect biomechanical measurements, muscle activation data, symptom reports, and self-reported health data at the start of the study, after 12 weeks, and again at 24 weeks. Participants within the virtual reality group will also be invited to take part to an interview to gather valuable insights and perspectives regarding the study and the intervention.
