VR games tested to get ICU patients moving and boost mood

NCT ID NCT06797895

Ongoing Symptom relief Sponsor: Duke University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study explores whether virtual reality (VR) can help patients in the cardiothoracic ICU move their arms and feel less anxious or lonely. Thirty adults who have been in the ICU for at least three days with limited mobility will use VR games that involve dancing or hitting objects to music. Nurses will help set up the VR, and patients can play at least once a day. The main goal is to see if this approach is practical and easy to use, not yet to prove it improves health.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: virtual reality (VR) games involving upper body movement
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a simple, drug-free way to help ICU patients regain mobility and reduce anxiety or loneliness during recovery.
What could go wrong: This is a very small, early feasibility study with only 30 participants. It focuses on whether the VR setup is practical, not on proving health benefits. Results may not apply to all ICU patients.

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As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

HEART SURGERY ICU MOBILITY NURSING

Contacts and locations

Locations

Duke University Hospital

Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States

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