Dance your way to recovery: VR gaming tested for stroke rehab
NCT ID NCT03869138
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jul 09, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study tests whether virtual reality dance games, like 'Just Dance', can help people who have had a stroke improve their balance and movement. Researchers will compare this fun, home-friendly approach to standard physical therapy. The goal is to see if it's safe, enjoyable, and effective for long-term recovery.
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 based dance training (behavioral intervention)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a fun, accessible way to improve balance and movement after a stroke.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small pilot study, so results may not be conclusive. The therapy may not be more effective than standard rehab, and some participants might find it difficult to use.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
About 120 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
-
Sep 2019
- Expected to finish
-
Sep 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 90 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Participants should be 18 to 90 years of age. 2. Able to follow instructions provided in English. 3. History of neurological impairment (Stroke, Parkinson's disease and Multiple Sclerosis) for at least 6 months prior to evaluation (self-report, confirmed by participant's physician). 4. Able to stand and walk with or without assistive device or braces as part of their activities of daily living (self-report). 5. Cognitive skills to actively participate (score of \< 26 on Montreal cognitive assessment indicates cognitive impairment) (30). 6. Stroke - a) Upper extremity limb function (score of at least 25 on the Fugyl Myer Upper extremity test and Muscle performance grade on deltoid, pec major and and triceps of \> or = 2/5). 7. Parkinson's disease a) - Stable medication use b) stage I or II of the Boher classification of Parkinson's disease c) No sudden fluctuations (on-off phenomenon). 8. Multiple Sclerosis - No Severe disability "Expanded Disability Status Scale" (EDSS scale \< or = 4.5). Exclusion Criteria: * 1\. Significant cognitive or communicative impairment indicated by a score of \> 26 on Montreal cognitive assessment indicates cognitive impairment. In neurologically impaired individuals, for cognitive impairment a score of \<25 on Mini Mental State Exam Score; for aphasia \<71% on Mississippi Aphasia Screening Test and \>15 on Geriatric Depression Scale. 2\. Presence of concurrent severe medical illness, including unhealed pressure sores, active or untreated infection, thromboembolic disease, severe contractures, active heterotrophic ossification in the lower extremities, lower limb fractures, known history of peripheral nerve injury in the lower legs, history of cardiovascular or pulmonary complications, or with pacemakers and history of metabolic (endocrine, hepatic) or renal dysfunction, uncontrolled seizures (Self-report). 3\. History of any acute and significant cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal or systemic diagnosis in the past 6 months or history of a recent major surgery (\<6months) or hospitalization (\<3months) and on any sedative drugs. 4\. Partcipants unavailable for 12 weeks of participation, 5. Current participation in other treatment (i.e.- Botox) or other research studies during the phase of the study. 6\. Pregnancy. 7. Uncontrolled pain \>3/10 on VAS 8. Complains of shortness of breath 9. Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure (SBP) \> 165 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) \> 110 mmHg during resting) \[1,2\]. 10\. Resting hear rate (HR) \> 85% of age-predicted maximal heart rate (HRmax) (HRmax = 220 - age) \[3\]. 11\. Oxygen saturation (measured by pulse oximeter) during resting \< 95%. 12. Severe cardiac disease (New York Heart Association classification of II-IV) \[1\]. 13\. Exclusion Criteria for Laboratory Slip test. i. T score of \< -2 on the Bone density, measured through via the heel ultrasound machine. It must be noted that the particpants will be explained that they were excluded from the balance test to avoid any injury risk as there is a chance that their bones may be weak. However, they will be told that the ultrasound test does give more false positives (i.e. lower scores indicating weak bones when in fact they are not weak) and that they probably could see their physician for a more conclusive test (such as the full-body bone scan). ii. Partcipants with \> 250 lbs in weight or with a BMI OF \>35Kg/m2. It should be noted that the harness system is capable of tolerating up to 300 lbs of weight safely. iii. Unable to walk a length of 8 meters without cane two times with a rest break in between the two walks, lasting shorter than five minutes. iv. Unable to stand for at least 5 minutes (to accommodate length of a dance song) as assessed by decrease in blood pressure by 20 mmHg systolic and 10 mmHg diastolic measured by the a research team member. Please note that the exclusion criteria for the Laboratory Slip test will only exclude participants from taking this test. They will still be part of the study if other inclusion /exclusion criteria are met and will go through the other tests and the intervention protocol.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Multiple sclerosis are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
-
The places running it
2 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
-
The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
-
A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
University of Illinois Chicago
SUSPENDEDChicago, Illinois, 60612, United States
-
University of Illinois at Chicago
RECRUITINGChicago, Illinois, 60612, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a massive data registry crack the code of Parkinson's and related brain diseases?
- Can a checklist and heart monitor stop repeat strokes?
- Can exercise rebuild muscle and balance in MS?
- Reading the Brain's signals to predict who benefits from deep brain stimulation
- Heart hole or stroke trigger? global registry tracks who gets closure and what happens next
- Zapping the spine while wearing a robotic ankle: a new way to help kids walk?