This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitation using virtual reality compared with conventional physiotherapy in patients with chronic low back pain. The study will be conducted as a prospective, randomized controlled trial including 80 patients aged 40-65 years diagnosed with chronic low back pain lasting at least three months. Participants will be randomly assigned to two groups: an experimental group receiving conventional rehabilitation supplemented with non-immersive virtual reality training using the Tecnobody Homing Studio system, and a control group receiving conventional rehabilitation alone.
Both groups will participate in a four-week rehabilitation program. The virtual reality training will replace a portion of conventional exercises and will focus on improving movement quality, postural control, coordination, and functional mobility through interactive tasks with visual and auditory biofeedback. The system utilizes a 3D camera enabling markerless motion analysis and real-time visual feedback to support movement correction and identification of functional deficits.
Outcome measures will include assessments of balance, posture, joint mobility, lower limb strength and endurance, pain intensity, pressure pain threshold, kinesiophobia, perceived stress, anxiety and depression, functional disability, quality of life, and motivation for physical activity. Measurements will be conducted at baseline, immediately after completion of the four-week rehabilitation program, and at an eight-week follow-up.
The results of this study are expected to provide clinical evidence regarding the effectiveness of virtual reality-assisted rehabilitation in patients with chronic low back pain and may contribute to the development of evidence-based rehabilitation strategies incorporating digital technologies.
Diagnosis of chronic low back pain lasting at least 3 months
Average pain intensity ≥4/10 during the previous week on the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
Age between 40 and 65 years
Ability to walk independently without assistive devices
Acute low back pain or pain lasting less than 3 months
Neurological, orthopedic, rheumatological, oncological diseases or active inflammatory conditions that may affect study outcomes
Cognitive impairment limiting the ability to understand instructions or participate in rehabilitation
Contraindications to virtual reality training such as severe dizziness, nausea, epilepsy, or severe visual or auditory impairment
University of Rzeszow
Lead sponsor