Virtual Reality-based Exercises on Postural Stability, Depressive Symptoms and Anxiety in Patients with Lower Extremity Burn

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Patients with Lower Extremity Burn; Postural Stability, Depressive Symptoms and Anxiety in Patients with Lower Extremity Burn

• Registration Number: NCT06776887
• Lead Sponsor: Cairo University

Brief Summary

A burn can be a life-threatening and traumatic event associated with severe pain and long-term health problems. Psychological difficulties are often reported after a burn, and symptoms of depression are one of the most common \[1,2\]. Physiological and state anxiety increased as a result of increased postural threat whereas ratings of perceived stability and balance efficacy were reduced as a function of increased postural threat. Efforts to diagnose balance disorders based on balance performance may be confounded by the influence of psychological factors. In a systematic review of the prevalence of depression after a burn, 4%-10% met the criteria for major depression within a year after the burn, and the rate of clinically relevant depressive symptoms measured by self-reporting was 4%-26% \[3\]. In addition, depressive symptoms after a burn have been associated with deterioration in long-term physical functioning and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) \[\[4\], \[5\], \[6\]\].

For patients with burns, studies have reported symptoms of anxiety in hospital \[7,8\], but Williams and Griffiths \[9\] reported that one third of a sample of 23 survivors of burns were still having appreciable psychological difficulties one year after the burn. Anxiety was the most common, followed by post-traumatic stress syndrome and depression Many treatments are available to treat anxiety and depression disorders, including medication, exercise, meditation, and cognitive behavioral therapy. In many cases, these treatments can be tailored to a client to help reduce symptomology of anxiety and/or depression. To date, the application of emerging technology in health promotion has generated substantial public interest. Among the emerging technologies that may potentially aid in the treatment of anxiety and depression, virtual reality (VR) is arguably the most exciting and technologically-advanced. VR is a digital technology that artificially creates sensory experiences-including visual, auditory, touch, and scent stimuli-while allowing the user to manipulate objects within the virtual environment created \[3\].

Detailed Description

A burn can be a life-threatening and traumatic event associated with severe pain and long-term health problems. Psychological difficulties are often reported after a burn, and symptoms of depression are one of the most common \[1,2\]. Physiological and state anxiety increased as a result of increased postural threat whereas ratings of perceived stability and balance efficacy were reduced as a function of increased postural threat. Efforts to diagnose balance disorders based on balance performance may be confounded by the influence of psychological factors. In a systematic review of the prevalence of depression after a burn, 4%-10% met the criteria for major depression within a year after the burn, and the rate of clinically relevant depressive symptoms measured by self-reporting was 4%-26% \[3\]. In addition, depressive symptoms after a burn have been associated with deterioration in long-term physical functioning and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) \[\[4\], \[5\], \[6\]\].

For patients with burns, studies have reported symptoms of anxiety in hospital \[7,8\], but Williams and Griffiths \[9\] reported that one third of a sample of 23 survivors of burns were still having appreciable psychological difficulties one year after the burn. Anxiety was the most common, followed by post-traumatic stress syndrome and depression Many treatments are available to treat anxiety and depression disorders, including medication, exercise, meditation, and cognitive behavioral therapy. In many cases, these treatments can be tailored to a client to help reduce symptomology of anxiety and/or depression. To date, the application of emerging technology in health promotion has generated substantial public interest. Among the emerging technologies that may potentially aid in the treatment of anxiety and depression, virtual reality (VR) is arguably the most exciting and technologically-advanced. VR is a digital technology that artificially creates sensory experiences-including visual, auditory, touch, and scent stimuli-while allowing the user to manipulate objects within the virtual environment created \[3\].

to our knowledge there is lack of studies assessing the effect of virtual reality based exercises on balance, depressive symptoms and anxiety in adult patients with lower extremity burn so this study is designed to assess the effect of virtual reality based exercises on balance, depressive symptoms and anxiety in adult patients with lower extremity burn

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2025-01-10
• Study First Submitted: 2025-01-10
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-01-14
• Study First Posted: 2025-01-15
• Status Verified: 2025-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-02-10
• Last Update Posted: 2025-02-12
• Primary Completion: 2025-05-10
• Study Completion: 2025-05-15

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 40

Inclusion Criteria

• age of the patient will be ranged from 35 to 55 years; 2) weight range 60-85 kg, height 155-170 cm; 3) total burned surface area (TBSA) was more than 40% measured by the rule of nines; 4) the burn cause was thermal; 5) burn depth, partial-thickness burn injury; 6) at least 3 months after burn injuries; 7) and with low physical activity level.

Exclusion Criteria

• Patients will be excluded if they had 1) inhalation injury; 2) leg amputation; 3) any limitation in LL range of motion; 4) auditory or visual problems; 5) congenital musculoskeletal deformities, especially in the foot; 6) psychiatric disorders; 7) paralysis; or 8) cardiac abnormalities or cardiac pacemakers.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Biodex Balance System	12 weeks	Biodex Medical Systems, Shirley, NY) which consists of a movable balance platform that provides 20° surface tilt through 360° range of motion. The platform interfaces with computer software that enables the device to serve as an objective assessment of balance. All measurements were performed at level eight of stability, and the test duration was set at 20 seconds for three successive trials

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Anxiety was measured by the Dutch edition of the state version of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).	12 weeks	This instrument is a 20-item measure of general anxiety and tension reflecting responses to situational factors.
The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II)	12 weeks	has become one of the most widely used measures to assess depressive symptoms and their severity in adolescents and adults \[9\]. The BDI-II \[5\] is a 21-item self-report measure that taps major depression symptoms according to diagnostic criteria listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders \[10\]. Items are summed to create a total score, with higher scores indicating higher levels of depression. It is worth noting that the BDI-II is not only extensively applied for research purposes but also in clinical practice, being the third test most used among Spanish professionals \[11\].

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Faculty of Physical Therapy; 🇪🇬 Giza, Egypt