Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable

Validation of a Virtual Reality Timed Up and Go Test in Adults With Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain

Turkey (Türkiye)65 participantsStarted 2026-03-21

Plain-language summary

This study evaluates whether an immersive virtual reality (VR) version of the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test can accurately measure functional mobility in adults with chronic non-specific low back pain. The standard TUG test measures the time needed to stand up from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn around, walk back, and sit down. In the VR version (VR-TUG), participants perform the same movements while wearing a VR headset that displays a virtual environment. We will examine: (1) whether VR-TUG results are similar to the standard TUG, (2) whether VR-TUG is reliable when repeated about one week later, and (3) whether VR-TUG performance is associated with pain, disability, and fear of movement. Participants will complete questionnaires (VAS, ODI, and TSK), perform standard TUG and VR-TUG at baseline, and repeat VR-TUG 7 ± 2 days later. Results will help determine whether VR-based functional mobility testing is a practical assessment tool for people with chronic low back pain.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 55 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 to 55 years. * Clinician-diagnosed chronic non-specific low back pain (pain duration ≥ 3 months). * Applied to Selcuk University Medical Faculty Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation outpatient clinic with low back pain complaint. * Able to walk independently and safely perform the Timed Up and Go (TUG) and VR-TUG tests (with or without usual assistive device). * Able to understand and follow instructions; literate in Turkish (at least primary school education). * Willing to participate and able to provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Red flag conditions or suspected specific pathology (e.g., fracture, tumor/metastasis, infection such as spondylitis/discitis). * Inflammatory back pain suggestive of conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis or sacroiliitis. * Significant radiculopathy or neurological deficit (dermatomal leg pain, marked weakness, reflex changes, sensory loss), clinically significant lumbar disc herniation, severe spinal stenosis, or spondylolisthesis grade II or higher. * Prior lumbar spine surgery. * Lower-extremity conditions that substantially limit mobility (e.g., severe hip/knee osteoarthritis, hip/knee arthroplasty, amputation, severe deformity). * Neurological disorders affecting gait or balance (e.g., stroke, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, progressive neuromuscular disease). * Vestibular disorder or recurrent severe vertigo affecting balance. * Severe cardiac or pulmonary disease that may compr…

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Virtual Reality Timed Up and Go (VR-TUG) Completion Time

Timeframe: Baseline and 7 ± 2 days (test-retest)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07402499

SponsorSelcuk University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2026-09-30

Contact for this trial

Mehmet Akif Güler, PhD

+90 542 464 42 09 makif.guler@selcuk.edu.tr

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Chronic Low Back Pain trials