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Virtual reality cycling exercise for motivation in adults with neurological conditions and frailty

Compares cycling with and without virtual reality for motivation in adults with neurological conditions.

Key facts

Who runs it
Marta Mondellini
Where
Bari, Costa Masnaga, Milan, Montescano, Pavia, Pisa, and Telese Terme, ItalySee the 7 sites
Trial code
Registry title
Evaluation of the Impact of Virtual Park on Training Motivation in Adult Patients
Status
Not yet recruiting
People taking part
70 people, planned
Started
Jun 2026
Expected to end
Jan 2027
Type of study
Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets an existing treatment, for comparison.
Treatments tested
  • Dual-task training with Virtual Reality
  • Cycling training
Record updated
29 May 2026

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for adults with a stroke, Parkinson's disease, ALS, multiple sclerosis, mild cognitive impairment, incomplete spinal cord injury, or frailty in older age. It tests cycling training with and without virtual reality.

Age
Older than 18 and younger than 85 years
Sex
All
Disease stage
Ischemic stroke within the last 6 months; idiopathic Parkinson's disease; possible, probable or definite ALS; multiple sclerosis with disability score (EDSS) of 8 or less; mild cognitive impairment (MCI); incomplete spinal cord injury, grade C or D, with MMSE above 18; frail older adults.
Earlier treatment
No experience with virtual reality. No change in treatment or rehabilitation in the month before joining.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • Another neurological disease besides the one being studied
  • Vision problems that prevent use of virtual reality
  • Heart or lung problems or other instability that rule out ergometer (exercise bike) training
  • Severe osteoporosis
  • Ongoing behavioral disorders

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 15 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Informed consent to the study
  • subjects > 18 years and <85 years
  • diagnosis of MCI according to the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders VTh Edition (DSM V TR American Psychological Association 2013)
  • detection of ischemic stroke within 6 months preceding the study, frail elderly subjects (Gobbens RJ et al. 2010)
  • subjects affected by idiopathic Parkinson's disease according to the MDS-PD criteria (Postuma et al., 2015)
  • subjects affected by possible, probable and definite ALS according to the revised El Escorial criteria (Brooks Br, et al. 2000)
  • subjects affected by MS according to the McDonald criteria (2017) with disability measured with the EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale) <= 8
  • patients with spinal cord injury of different etiology with incomplete spinal cord injury, AIS (ASIA impairment scale) grade C and D, MMSE >18
  • subjects naïve to the use of the RV
  • no therapeutic changes or rehabilitation interventions in the month prior to inclusion in the study
  • no ongoing behavioral disorders

Who cannot take part

  • Other concomitant neurological pathologies in addition to the one under study
  • presence of visual disturbances that do not allow access to the experimental virtual reality protocol
  • presence of impaired cardiorespiratory function or other organic instabilities that contraindicate ergometer training
  • severe osteoporosis

Where in Italy

  • Istituti a Carattere Scientifico Maugeri BariBari, ItalyContact: Stefania De TraneNo longer taking part
  • Centro di Riabilitazione Villa BerettaCosta Masnaga, ItalyContact: Franco MolteniNo longer taking part
  • Istituti a Carattere Scientifico Maugeri Milano CamaldoliMilan, ItalyContact: Christian LunettaNo longer taking part
  • Istituti a Carattere Scientifico Maugeri MontescanoMontescano, ItalyContact: Cira FundaròNo longer taking part
  • Istituti a Carattere Scientifico Maugeri PaviaPavia, ItalyContact: Chiara PaveseNo longer taking part
  • Università di PisaPisa, ItalyContact: Carmelo ChisariNo longer taking part
  • Istituti a Carattere Scientifico Maugeri TeleseTelese Terme, ItalyContact: Laura MarcuccioNo longer taking part

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

The purpose of this clinical study is to evaluate the feasibility, usability, and motivational impact of VirtualPark, a virtual reality-based dual-task rehabilitation system, in adults with neurological and age-related conditions.

Read full original descriptionShow less

VirtualPark is a virtual reality application designed to deliver cognitive exercises during cycling training using a commercially available ergometer (THERA-Trainer Tigo). The system integrates physical and cognitive tasks in simulated real-life environments.

The intervention integrates motor and cognitive training tasks targeting domains such as attention, inhibition, working memory, and navigation.

This is a prospective, multicenter, randomized, cross-over pilot study. It will compare cycling training performed with and without virtual reality. Participants will complete both intervention conditions over a 4-week period separated by a wash-out phase with standard rehabilitation activities. The order of conditions will be randomized.

The study will assess motivation during rehabilitation training, usability and user experience of the system, as well as exploratory effects on cognitive and motor performance, functional abilities, perceived exertion, and safety.

The study will enroll adult participants (≥18 years) with conditions such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, mild cognitive impairment, spinal cord injury, and frail older adults.

The 2 groups in the trial

  • Cycling with Virtual ParkTreatment being tested

    Participants perform cycling training using a commercially available ergometer (THERA-Trainer Tigo) combined with the VirtualPark virtual reality system. The intervention includes simultaneous motor and cognitive training (dual-task), with cognitive exercises targeting attention, inhibition, working memory, and navigation during cycling.

    Treatment: Dual-task training with Virtual Reality

  • Cycling withouth Virtual ParkExisting treatment, for comparison

    Participants perform standard cycling training using the ergometer (THERA-Trainer Tigo) without virtual reality. This represents conventional motor rehabilitation (supportive care) without the addition of cognitive tasks delivered through VirtualPark.

    Treatment: Cycling training

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
Evaluation of the Impact of a Rehabilitation Intervention Based on Cycling With Virtual Park on Training Motivation in Adult Patients
Plain-language title
Virtual reality cycling exercise for motivation in adults with neurological conditions and frailtyGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
Record updated
29 May 2026