Virtual reality and field training to help stroke survivors walk in the community
Tests virtual reality and practice walking outdoors in stroke survivors who have finished rehabilitation.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Virtual Reality and Field Training to Enhance Community Walking After Stroke
Key facts
- Where
- Laval and Québec, CanadaSee the 2 sites
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 40 and 74 years old?
Source: NCT04559373, who can take part
Where in Canada
- Jewish Rehabilitation HospitalLaval, CanadaTaking people
- Institut de réadaptation en déficience physique de QuébecQuébec, CanadaNot yet recruiting
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- McGill University
- Trial code
- NCT04559373
- Record updated
- 7 October 2026
- Original description
While stroke survivors discharged from rehabilitation present with some recovery in mobility, their ability to ambulate in the community remains limited. The investigators propose to test a novel, low-cost, intensive and individually tailored intervention that combines virtual reality (VR) and field training to enhance community ambulation and participation in stroke survivors discharged from rehabilitation.Read full original descriptionShow less
A Virtual Reality and Field Training Toolkit to Enhance Community Ambulation and Participation in Stroke Survivors
While stroke survivors discharged from rehabilitation present with some recovery in mobility, their ability to ambulate in the community remains limited. The investigators propose to test a novel, low-cost, intensive and individually tailored intervention that combines virtual reality (VR) and field training to enhance community ambulation and participation in stroke survivors discharged from rehabilitation.
The aims are to: (1) Assess feasibility, acceptability, safety and adherence of the intervention in stroke survivors; and (2) Examine the extent to which post-intervention changes in functional walking and participation to community walking vary according to walking, cognitive and visual-perceptual abilities.
The investigators will use a virtual environment prototype simulating a shopping mall and surrounding streets, in which participants will interact using VR goggles and game controllers. Scenarios of increasing levels of complexity will be introduced. This intervention study involves a single group, multiple pre- multiple post- study design where chronic stroke participants will engage in a 4-week training program. The program will include VR training sessions performed in the clinical setting (3/week) and practice of community ambulation skills while supervised by family/caregivers (2/week). Participants will be assessed on measures of functional walking, balance \& mobility and participation to community walking. Adherence, safety and acceptability will be documented. This study will generate foundation knowledge on the response to the intervention based on individual capacities.
Inclusion: People with chronic stroke and persistent deficits in walking / visual-perceptual / cognitive capacities. They can be male or female, aged from 40 to 74 years, with normal/corrected visual and auditory acuity, and present with:; First-ever supratentorial unilateral stroke 9-24 months ago (such chronicity will ensure steady-state mobility without long-term disuse-related changes; Mild-to-moderate hemiparesis (Chedoke McMaster Stoke Assessment stages 4/7-6/7 on postural control, leg \& foot); Ability to walk independently with/without walking aids for at least 1 min at 0.4-0.9 m/s (such a speed range indicates mobility not sufficient for functional community ambulation: shopping ~1.1m/s, street crossing ~1.2 m/s); Intact or mildly affected cognitive function (Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores ≥ 22/30); Intact to moderately affected visual-perceptual function (positive scores on a maximum of 3/6 tasks on the Behavioural Inattention Test).
Exclusion: Subjects without medical clearance for exercise; Subjects with comorbidities interfering with walking; Subjects with comorbidities interfering with visual perception.