Clinical trial NCT06413758: Attentional Focus in Virtual Reality
Official title: Effect of Internal and External Focus on Balance Performance: Comparison of Virtual Reality and Real World Environment
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Conditions: Attentional Focus in Virtual Reality
Keywords: Postural Control
Virtual Reality
Focus of Attention
Lead sponsor: Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2024-05-14
Enrollment: 38
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 26
Standard ages: ADULT
Observational model: CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective: CROSS_SECTIONAL
Sampling method: PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: healthy young adults between the ages of 18-26

Brief summary: The goal of this explorative observational study is to learn about the effect of internal and external focus on postural control in virtual reality and compare with the real world environment in young adults. The main question it aims to answer is:

Does attentional focus effect differently on postural control in virtual reality comparing to real world environment?

Detailed description: Virtual Reality is used to improve postural control in various populations. However, exercise with virtual reality glasses cause new challenges to the user in maintaining balance. In this study, the effect of internal and external focus on postural control in the virtual reality environment will be revealed and compared with the performance in the real environment. The results of the study will guide the customization and optimization of balance training programs implemented in the virtual reality environment. A total of 38 healthy young adults will be included and allocated into Group I (Virtual Reality) or Group II (Real World) (ratio 1:1). The balance performance of the participants will be assessed with single leg stance test and bipodal stance test. The participants will be instructed to stand still and maintain balance on the forceplate in three conditions: (1) with an internal focus, (2) with an external focus, and (3) non-directional. Conditions will be applied to the participants randomly to avoid bias. Each condition will be measured three times and the mean values will be recorded as outcomes. The total displacement of center of pressure (CoP), the mean velocity of CoP, the CoP area, total mediolateral (ML) displacement, the mean velocity in ML, total anteroposterior (AP) displacement and the mean velocity in AP will assessed with K-Force Plates (Kinvent, France).

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Being a healthy individual between the ages of 18-26
* Lower extremity functional motor signs or sensory features should be normal or corrected
* No lower extremity injury within 6 months
* Not taking alcohol or medication 12 hours before
* Having no virtual reality experience

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of epilepsy, marked dissociative seizures
* Needing assistive devices to maintain upright posture
* Other comorbidities that may affect postural control (dizziness, vestibular disorders, orthopedic or cardiovascular comorbidities)
* Being an athlete
* Positive Fukuda stepping test

Primary outcomes:
measure: Total displacement of center of pressure
timeFrame: baseline
measure: The mean velocity of center of pressure
timeFrame: baseline
measure: The area of center of pressure
timeFrame: baseline
measure: total mediolateral displacement
timeFrame: baseline
measure: total anterolateral displacement
timeFrame: baseline
measure: the mean velocity in mediolateral
timeFrame: baseline
measure: the mean velocity in anterolateral
timeFrame: baseline
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
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