RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

VIrtual Reality Glasses Use to Improve Lateropulsion and the Post-stroke Postural Vertical

This study, called VIRGIL, is testing a new way to help people who have had a stroke and are having trouble with their balance, often leaning to one side. This leaning is called lateropulsion. We're using special virtual reality (VR) glasses that make it look like the room is tilted. The idea is to see if experiencing a tilted world in VR can help their brain learn to recognise what is truly upright again. This could help them stand straighter and feel more stable. The study will involve people who have had a stroke and also healthy volunteers, comparing how the VR experience affects their sense of balance and how their body holds itself.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University Hospital, Grenoble

Enrolment target

Start

15 Jun 2021

Estimated completion

30 May 2026

Stroke Brain Diseases Cerebrovascular Disorders Postural; Defect Cognition Disorder

What is this study about?

Imagine your brain has a built-in compass that tells you which way is up and how your body is positioned in space. After a stroke, this compass can sometimes get a bit wonky, especially for people who find themselves leaning to one side, a problem called lateropulsion. This study aims to use virtual reality (VR) as a unique tool to help reset that internal compass.

Researchers will use VR glasses to create a 'virtual room' that appears to be tilted. The idea is that by experiencing this tilted virtual world, the brain might be encouraged to 're-calibrate' its understanding of what is straight and upright. For stroke patients who lean, the hope is that this VR experience could help them stand straighter. For healthy people, it will help us understand how easily our sense of upright can be influenced by what we see.

By carefully measuring how people's perception of up and down changes, and how their body posture is affected, the scientists hope to see if this VR technique could be a useful new way to help stroke survivors improve their balance and overall stability. If the effects of the VR continue even after the glasses are taken off, it would be a strong sign that this technology could be helpful in rehabilitation clinics.

Key takeaways

Uses virtual reality to help improve balance after a stroke.
Aims to 'reset' the brain's sense of 'up' and 'down'.
Involves wearing VR glasses and experiencing a tilted room.
Looks for changes in standing balance and perception.
Could lead to new methods for stroke rehabilitation.

Who may be eligible?

To be part of this study, you would need to be between 18 and 80 years old. The study is looking for two groups of people: those who have had a stroke within the last six months and are currently in physical rehabilitation, and healthy volunteers.

For those who have had a stroke, you would need to be leaning to one side (lateropulsion) and have had a stroke affecting one side of your brain. You must be able to understand and follow simple instructions and not have severe confusion or untreated depression. We also can't include people with heart failure, severe spine problems, or certain balance issues.

For healthy volunteers, you must not have a history of stroke, other brain conditions, or balance and dizziness problems. Nobody in the study can have a history of serious mental health conditions or have a severe fear of the dark.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 18 and 80 years old?
If you've had a stroke, was it within the last 6 months and are you leaning to one side?
Do you have good comprehension and can follow simple instructions?
Do you *not* have a history of serious mental health issues or severe fear of the dark?
If healthy, do you have no history of stroke, other brain conditions, or balance problems?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you join this study, you would wear special virtual reality (VR) glasses. While wearing the glasses, you would be immersed in a virtual room that appears to be tilted. Researchers will measure your sense of vertical (how you perceive 'up') and how your body is positioned, both before and after the VR experience. They will use sensors on your body to track your movements and a special platform to measure how you bear your weight. The study involves a one-time session and does not include any medication. The total time for participation would likely involve a few hours for assessments and the VR session.

Potential risks and benefits

Potential benefits of taking part include contributing to our understanding of how virtual reality might help stroke survivors with balance problems, and potentially experiencing an improvement in your own balance. As with any VR experience, there's a small risk of feeling dizzy or disoriented during the session, or perhaps increased anxiety if you have a fear of the dark. All participation is voluntary, and you are free to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, which would not affect your medical care.

Locations (1)

University Hospital Grenoble
Verified postcode
Grenoble, France· Recruiting

Common questions

What is 'lateropulsion'?

Lateropulsion means leaning or pushing to one side, often experienced by people after a stroke, making it hard to stand straight.

What are 'virtual reality glasses'?

These are special goggles that show you a computer-generated world, making you feel like you are inside it.

Will I feel sick or dizzy wearing the virtual reality glasses?

Some people might feel a bit dizzy or disoriented, but the team will guide you through the experience carefully.

How long will I need to be in the study?

This study involves a single visit, lasting a few hours, for the assessments and the virtual reality session.

Will the virtual reality cure my stroke symptoms?

This is a research study to see if VR *might* help. It's not a guaranteed cure, but it could lead to new treatments in the future.

How to find out more

Dominic Pérennou

dperennou@chu-grenoble.fr +33 476766084 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.