Virtual Reality Treadmill Training for Aging

(V-TARGET Trial)

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: The University of Texas at Arlington

Disqualifiers: Limited mobility, Orthopedic injury, Cardiovascular issues, Motor/cognitive disorders, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 11

Duration: 5 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to explore how virtual reality treadmill training (V-TARGET intervention) can help older adults improve balance and mental function, potentially reducing falls. Participants will walk or run on a special treadmill while using a VR headset to play games that mimic daily activities, such as shopping or walking in nature. The researchers will compare this VR training to a control group that does not engage in VR exercises. Suitable candidates are adults up to 75 years old who can walk independently without any assistive device. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could enhance daily living for older adults.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It is best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that this VR-based exercise intervention is safe for older adults?

In earlier studies, adding virtual reality (VR) to treadmill training reduced falls among older adults. Research shows that this combination improves walking speed, step length, and balance. These improvements are crucial for preventing falls, a common risk for older people.

The treatment, called V-TARGET, involves walking or running on a special treadmill while wearing a VR headset. This setup allows participants to engage in activities that mimic real-life situations, such as shopping or walking in a park. The VR experience makes the exercise more engaging and may help individuals apply the skills they learn to daily life.

Studies so far indicate that participants handle this type of exercise well, with no major reports of negative effects from the VR treadmill training. This suggests that the V-TARGET program is a safe option for older adults aiming to improve balance and reduce fall risk. However, considering personal health conditions and consulting a healthcare provider before starting any new exercise program is always important. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the V-TARGET intervention because it offers a novel way to enhance mobility and balance in older adults using virtual reality technology. Unlike traditional exercise programs focused on fixed movements, this method allows participants to walk and run in 360 degrees on a special treadmill, offering a safe and immersive experience. The integration of virtual reality exercises and games makes the sessions engaging and could improve adherence to physical activity. This innovative approach not only aims to improve physical capabilities but also seeks to provide a more enjoyable and stimulating exercise option for seniors.

What evidence suggests that this VR-based exercise intervention is effective for aging-related outcomes?

This trial will compare the V-TARGET intervention, which combines virtual reality with treadmill training, to a waitlist control group. Studies have shown that integrating virtual reality with treadmill training can significantly enhance walking speed and stability. This method matches or surpasses the effectiveness of traditional training methods. Research indicates that this training can increase strength and improve cognitive skills, both crucial for fall prevention. Additionally, virtual reality exercises that mimic real-life activities may help older adults apply their training to everyday tasks, enhancing their quality of life. Early evidence suggests that this type of training might also reduce brain inflammation, which is associated with memory and cognitive issues. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Xiangli Gu

Principal Investigator

University of Texas at Arlington

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults up to 75 years old who are interested in a study on how virtual reality-infused treadmill training can affect aging-related outcomes like motor-cognitive function and quality of life. Participants should be able to commit to a 5-week program with sessions twice a week.

Inclusion Criteria

English speaking

I am 75 years old or younger.

I can walk on my own without needing help from devices.

Exclusion Criteria

I do not have Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, dementia, or similar conditions.

I use a wheelchair.

I have joint problems that stop me from moving freely.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo a 5-week V-TARGET intervention with VR-infused treadmill training, consisting of 10 sessions (2 times/week, 30 minutes/session)

5 weeks

10 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, with assessments at 1-month post-intervention

4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• V-TARGET intervention

Trial Overview The V-TARGET intervention, which combines self-paced treadmill exercises with VR rehab games, is being tested against regular activities (control group) for its impact on physical and cognitive functions, overall well-being, inflammation levels in the body, and blood flow in the brain and body.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: V-TARGET intervention group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

All participants in the V-TARGET intervention group will exercise on the Virtuix Omni 360-degree self-paced, non-powered treadmill-simulator in the lab for 5-weeks (2 days/week, 30 minutes/session, 10 sessions total. The treadmill-simulator is a first-of-its-kind motion platform on which an individual can walk and run at a self-paced speed in 360 degrees (i.e., forwards, sideways and backwards) without risk of falling or colliding with other people. The V-TARGET intervention group will self-pace their locomotor action (walking/running) on the Omni treadmill-simulator while they wear the Pico Neo 2 head-mounted display (HMD) headset and use the Neuro Rehab VR XR Therapy system to experience daily activity exercises/games, including Retail Therapy, Explore (gait training), Lunchtime Adventure, and Nature Walk.

Group II: The waitlist control group Active Control 1 Intervention

The control group will not do any VR exercise but will only complete the pre-post and 1-month follow-up assessment upon signing up the study.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

The University of Texas at Arlington

Lead Sponsor

Trials

48

Recruited

7,300+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Combining virtual reality with treadmill training significantly improves walking speed, step length, and balance in patients with walking and balance impairments, based on a review of 16 randomized controlled trials involving 829 participants.

This augmented training approach also enhances functional mobility and balance confidence, demonstrating its clinical significance over traditional treadmill-only training.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual reality augments effectiveness of treadmill walking training in patients with walking and balance impairments: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Hao, J., Buster, TW., Cesar, GM., et al.[2023]

Using a VirZoom VR exercise bike (vBike) led to significantly higher physical activity levels, measured by pedal revolution counts, compared to both an exergaming bike (eBike) and a traditional stationary bike (tBike) in a study with 48 college students.

Participants reported lower perceived exertion while using the vBike compared to the tBike, suggesting that VR exercise may provide a more enjoyable and less intense workout experience, which could encourage more people to engage in physical activity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acute Effects of Virtual Reality Exercise Biking on College Students' Physical Responses. Zeng, N., Liu, W., Pope, ZC., et al.[2023]

Non-immersive virtual reality (VR) balance exercises significantly improve overall balance function in older adults, with a moderate to large effect size based on a meta-analysis of 25 studies.

The presence of avatars and knowledge of performance (KP) feedback during VR exercises enhances their effectiveness, particularly for static balance compared to gait improvement.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of non-immersive virtual reality exercises for balance and gait improvement in older adults: A meta-analysis. Park, JH., Jeon, HS., Kim, JH., et al.[2023]

The individualized treadmill controller for user-driven walking (UDW) allows for gait biomechanics similar to traditional treadmill-driven walking (TDW), making it a safe and effective option for gait training in controlled environments.

UDW enhances cognitive engagement during virtual reality applications, potentially improving motor learning outcomes compared to standard treadmill training.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A novel walking speed estimation scheme and its application to treadmill control for gait rehabilitation. Yoon, J., Park, HS., Damiano, DL.[2021]

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06727942

Virtual Reality-Infused Treadmill Training on Aging-Related ... This purpose of this study is to design and implement a Virtual Reality-Infused Treadmill Training on Aging-Related Outcomes (V-TARGET) intervention, focusing ...

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/virtual-reality-treadmill-training-for-aging-87ad5

Virtual Reality Treadmill Training for Aging (V-TARGET Trial) Combining virtual reality with treadmill training significantly improves walking speed, step length, and balance in patients with walking and balance ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12347705/

Effectiveness of Virtual Reality-Based Training Versus ... Overall, the results suggest that VR training is at least as effective as conventional training in improving mobility and often provides ...

4. bmcneurol.biomedcentral.com bmcneurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2377-13-15

V-TIME: a treadmill training program augmented by virtual ... This randomized controlled trial will demonstrate the extent to which an intervention that combines treadmill training augmented by virtual reality reduces ...

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003999324012620

Effects of a 6-Week Treadmill Training With and Without ... Both treadmill training (TT) and TT with VR reduced frailty in MS patients. TT+VR showed greater improvement in cognitive aspects of frailty.

6. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0140673616313253

Addition of a non-immersive virtual reality component to ... In a diverse group of older adults at high risk for falls, treadmill training plus VR led to reduced fall rates compared with treadmill training alone. Funding.