Cerebral PalsyPhase 1NCT05336227
Telehealth Virtual Reality Gaming on Cardiometabolic Health Among Youth With Cerebral Palsy
A Phase 1 study testing Virtual Reality Exergaming in people with Cerebral Palsy, run by University of Alabama at Birmingham at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The primary purpose of this study is to examine the preliminary efficacy of 12-weeks of home-based exercise using consumer available virtual reality gaming technology, compared with a 12 week wait-list control group. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 13 to 24 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Cerebral Palsy
- What is being tested?
- Virtual Reality Exergaming
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 32 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Jun 2022to 11 Feb 2025
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 13 to 24 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- medical diagnosis of cerebral palsy
- between the ages of 13-24 years to accommodate the World Health Organization definition of youth and the minimum age of 13 years specified by the Quest
- physician clearance to participate
- access to a Wi-Fi Internet connection in the home via mobile phone or tablet computer
- a caregiver to support the child
Who cannot join
- physically active (defined as >150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise in a typical week)
- cannot use their arms for exercise or a classification of GMFCS level V, which we have found to preclude the ability to use the Oculus Quest hand-held controllers
- complete blindness or deafness.
- contraindications to exercise based on the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Children's Hospital of Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama, 35233
About this study
Official title: A Pilot Trial of Telehealth Active Video Gaming Using Immersive Virtual Reality on Cardiometabolic Health Among Youth With Cerebral Palsy
The primary purpose of this study is to examine the preliminary efficacy of 12-weeks of home-based exercise using consumer available virtual reality gaming technology, compared with a 12 week wait-list control group. The secondary purpose is to understand behavioral mechanisms that explain participation in exergaming through semi-structured interviews with participants from both groups at post-intervention or dropout.
Read the detailed description
Youth with cerebral palsy (YwCP) do not have adequate exercise options that empower them to independently maintain their cardiometabolic health and, thus, live inactive, sedentary lifestyles that place them at substantially higher risk for cardiovascular disease, related conditions (e.g., hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, and hypertension), and mortality than the general population. No randomized controlled trial (RCT) has demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements in cardiometabolic health in people with cerebral palsy.
VR gaming delivered via telehealth may be an optimal method of promoting sustainable exercise behavior among large groups of youth. Home-based telehealth programs that incorporate 'virtual' behavioral coaching (tele-coaching) are a desirable approach for promoting non-supervised, exercise behavior among people with disabilities who do not have convenient access to community programs. The addition of behavioral coaching strategies such as goal-setting, confidence building, setting reasonable expectations, and understanding benefits, underpinned by theory such as the Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 2004), have been found to enhance the likelihood that people engage in and sustain a behavior.
Therefore, this study hypothesizes that 3-months of tele-monitored VR exergaming with behavioral coaching will result in strong adherence to moderate-intensity exercise and greater changes in key indicators of cardiometabolic health in YwCP, compared with a wait-list control group that maintains habitual activity (before receiving the intervention).
- Conditions
- Cerebral Palsy
- Being tested
- Virtual Reality Exergaming
- Keywords
- physical activity, exercise, telehealth
- Medical subject headings
- Cerebral Palsy, Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Virtual Reality ExergamingBehavioural
The VR intervention will include home-based exercise using the Oculus Quest, a heart rate monitor (Polar OH1), BP cuff, and mobile application. The games will include rhythmic movements to music and sport/recreation activities that elicit high energy expenditure. Participants will be instructed to reach 150 minutes per week of moderate-exercise in week 1 and maintain this volume across the 12-week intervention. The intervention will include behavioral, physical education coaching through videoconference, which we refer to as Tele-PE. Tele-PE will aim to enhance adherence, provide basic exercise knowledge, and increase mastery playing the games. Calls will last 15 minutes, and be provided weekly in month 1, bi-weekly in month 2, and one call at the end of month 3.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate Start - Virtual Reality Exergaming | Experimental | 12 weeks of virtual reality active video gaming using immersive commercially available equipment, with adapted games for people to play in the seated position. Maintain normal eating/nutritional behaviors. Receives: Behavioral: Virtual Reality Exergaming |
| Wait-list Control | No intervention | Maintain habitual physical activity levels for 12 weeks, before receiving the same intervention. Maintain normal eating/nutritional behaviors. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Changes in C-reactive Protein (hsCRP)
hsCRP (mg/L) is a critical marker of inflammation that contributes to pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic elements of CVD risk. A single hsCRP measure is a strong predictor of myocardial infarction or coronary heart disease mortality, and several other diseases of the circulatory system in people without a history of such conditions.
Measured: Week 0-13
Changes in Hemoglobin A1C
HbA1C (mmol/mol) measures mean hemoglobin glycation over the previous three months.
Measured: Week 0-13
Changes in Fasting Insulin
High fasting insulin indicates the presence of insulin resistance. Exercise interventions can expect a small beneficial change in fasting insulin levels after 1-month of training.
Measured: Week 0-13
Changes in Fasting Triglycerides
A triglyceride level >150 mg/dL, is largely supported as an indicator of CVD risk. Exercise interventions can expect a small beneficial change in triglyceride levels following 1-month of training, even among people with normal triglyceride levels.
Measured: Week 0-13
Changes in High-density Lipoprotein
High-density lipoprotein (HDL; mg/dL) cholesterol is a predictor of future CVD among young and middle-aged people. Exercise interventions can expect a small effect after 1-month of training.
Measured: Week 0-13
Changes in Low-density Lipoprotein
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL; mg/dL) cholesterol is a predictor of future CVD among young and middle-aged people. Exercise interventions can expect a small effect after 1-month of training.
Measured: Week 0-13
Changes in Total Cholesterol
Total cholesterol (mg/dL) is a predictor of future CVD among young and middle-aged people. Exercise interventions can expect a small effect after 1-month of training.
Measured: Week 0-13
Changes in Resting Systolic Blood Pressure
Elevated blood pressure (mmHg) during childhood and adolescents is associated with intermediate markers and hard outcomes of CVD in adulthood. Moderate-intensity exercise is negatively associated with blood pressure. Small changes in blood pressure can occur from as early as 1-month of endurance training.
Measured: Week 0-13
Changes in Resting Diastolic Blood Pressure
Elevated blood pressure (mmHg) during childhood and adolescents is associated with intermediate markers and hard outcomes of CVD in adulthood. Moderate-intensity exercise is negatively associated with blood pressure. Small changes in blood pressure can occur from as early as 1-month of endurance training.
Measured: Week 0-13
Changes in Body Weight
Body weight measured in kg using a off-the-shelf bathroom scale (Moss and Stone Body Electronic Scale, minimum 0, maximum 181kg). Higher weight indicates poorer health.
Measured: Week 0-13
Lung Capacity (Baseline)
Lung capacity will be measured via peak expiratory flow rate (PEF; units: L/min) using a spirometer at the home.
Measured: Week 0
Lung Capacity (Week 7)
Lung capacity will be measured via peak expiratory flow rate (PEF; units: L/min) using a spirometer at the home.
Measured: Week 7
Lung Capacity (Week 13)
Lung capacity will be measured via peak expiratory flow rate (PEF; units: L/min) using a spirometer at the home.
Measured: Week 13
Secondary outcomes (2)
Total Intervention Play Time
Total minutes of playtime recorded by mobile app and uploaded to research staff by participants. Waitlist control data was not assessed for this outcome; data not collected.
Measured: Weeks 1-12
Adherence to the Exercise Intervention Prescription
Percentage of moderate exercise minutes met (percent of prescription achieved), as indicated by participants in their exercise logs. The number of moderate minutes per week achieved divided by 150. Waitlist control data was not assessed for this outcome; data not collected.
Measured: Weeks 1-12
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Apr 2022
- Study start1 Jun 2022
- Primary completion1 Dec 2024
- Study completion11 Feb 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Cerebral PalsyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of Alabama at BirminghamThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- One group that immediately receives the intervention. Another group that waits before receiving the same intervention.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 32 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Byron Lai, University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Investigators
- Byron Lai, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Alabama at Birmingham
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05336227
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 300007833
- Other IDs
- 1R03HD107598-01
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 13 Apr 2022
- Last updated
- 8 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: De-identified data will be submitted into the NICHD Data and Specimen Hub (DASH). Intellectual property and data generated under this project will be administered in accordance with both University and NIH policies, including the NIH Data Sharing Policy and Implementation Guidance under notice NOT-OD-03-032 (released February 26, 2003)
Publications
Lai B, Davis D, Young R, Kimani-Swanson E, Wozow C, Wen H, Kim Y, Wilroy J, Rimmer J. The Effects of Virtual Reality Tele-exergaming on Cardiometabolic Indicators of Health Among Youth With Cerebral Palsy: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2022 Aug 17;11(8):e40708. doi: 10.2196/40708.
PubMed 35976192
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Pilot Trial of Telehealth Active Video Gaming Using Immersive Virtual Reality on Cardiometabolic Health Among Youth With Cerebral Palsy
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05336227
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 300007833
- Conditions
- Cerebral Palsy
- Keywords
- physical activity, exercise, telehealth
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 32 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Alabama at BirminghamUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
- Study start
- 1 Jun 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Dec 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 11 Feb 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 20 Apr 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 13 May 2025
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The primary purpose of this study is to examine the preliminary efficacy of 12-weeks of home-based exercise using consumer available virtual reality gaming technology, compared with a 12 week wait-list control group. The secondary purpose is to understand behavioral mechanisms that explain participation in exergaming through semi-structured interviews with participants from both groups at post-intervention or dropout.
Detailed description
Youth with cerebral palsy (YwCP) do not have adequate exercise options that empower them to independently maintain their cardiometabolic health and, thus, live inactive, sedentary lifestyles that place them at substantially higher risk for cardiovascular disease, related conditions (e.g., hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, and hypertension), and mortality than the general population. No randomized controlled trial (RCT) has demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements in cardiometabolic health in people with cerebral palsy.
VR gaming delivered via telehealth may be an optimal method of promoting sustainable exercise behavior among large groups of youth. Home-based telehealth programs that incorporate 'virtual' behavioral coaching (tele-coaching) are a desirable approach for promoting non-supervised, exercise behavior among people with disabilities who do not have convenient access to community programs. The addition of behavioral coaching strategies such as goal-setting, confidence building, setting reasonable expectations, and understanding benefits, underpinned by theory such as the Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 2004), have been found to enhance the likelihood that people engage in and sustain a behavior.
Therefore, this study hypothesizes that 3-months of tele-monitored VR exergaming with behavioral coaching will result in strong adherence to moderate-intensity exercise and greater changes in key indicators of cardiometabolic health in YwCP, compared with a wait-list control group that maintains habitual activity (before receiving the intervention).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- One group that immediately receives the intervention. Another group that waits before receiving the same intervention.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate Start - Virtual Reality Exergaming | Experimental | Behavioral: Virtual Reality Exergaming12 weeks of virtual reality active video gaming using immersive commercially available equipment, with adapted games for people to play in the seated position. Maintain normal eating/nutritional behaviors. |
| Wait-list Control | No intervention | –Maintain habitual physical activity levels for 12 weeks, before receiving the same intervention. Maintain normal eating/nutritional behaviors. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 13 to 24 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- medical diagnosis of cerebral palsy
- between the ages of 13-24 years to accommodate the World Health Organization definition of youth and the minimum age of 13 years specified by the Quest
- physician clearance to participate
- access to a Wi-Fi Internet connection in the home via mobile phone or tablet computer
- a caregiver to support the child
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- physically active (defined as >150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise in a typical week)
- cannot use their arms for exercise or a classification of GMFCS level V, which we have found to preclude the ability to use the Oculus Quest hand-held controllers
- complete blindness or deafness.
- contraindications to exercise based on the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Reality ExergamingThe VR intervention will include home-based exercise using the Oculus Quest, a heart rate monitor (Polar OH1), BP cuff, and mobile application. The games will include rhythmic movements to music and sport/recreation activities that elicit high energy expenditure. Participants will be instructed to reach 150 minutes per week of moderate-exercise in week 1 and maintain this volume across the 12-week intervention. The intervention will include behavioral, physical education coaching through videoconference, which we refer to as Tele-PE. Tele-PE will aim to enhance adherence, provide basic exercise knowledge, and increase mastery playing the games. Calls will last 15 minutes, and be provided weekly in month 1, bi-weekly in month 2, and one call at the end of month 3. | Behavioural | Immediate Start - Virtual Reality Exergaming |
Primary outcome
Changes in C-reactive Protein (hsCRP)
Time frame: Week 0-13
hsCRP (mg/L) is a critical marker of inflammation that contributes to pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic elements of CVD risk. A single hsCRP measure is a strong predictor of myocardial infarction or coronary heart disease mortality, and several other diseases of the circulatory system in people without a history of such conditions.
Changes in Hemoglobin A1C
Time frame: Week 0-13
HbA1C (mmol/mol) measures mean hemoglobin glycation over the previous three months.
Changes in Fasting Insulin
Time frame: Week 0-13
High fasting insulin indicates the presence of insulin resistance. Exercise interventions can expect a small beneficial change in fasting insulin levels after 1-month of training.
Changes in Fasting Triglycerides
Time frame: Week 0-13
A triglyceride level >150 mg/dL, is largely supported as an indicator of CVD risk. Exercise interventions can expect a small beneficial change in triglyceride levels following 1-month of training, even among people with normal triglyceride levels.
Changes in High-density Lipoprotein
Time frame: Week 0-13
High-density lipoprotein (HDL; mg/dL) cholesterol is a predictor of future CVD among young and middle-aged people. Exercise interventions can expect a small effect after 1-month of training.
Changes in Low-density Lipoprotein
Time frame: Week 0-13
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL; mg/dL) cholesterol is a predictor of future CVD among young and middle-aged people. Exercise interventions can expect a small effect after 1-month of training.
Changes in Total Cholesterol
Time frame: Week 0-13
Total cholesterol (mg/dL) is a predictor of future CVD among young and middle-aged people. Exercise interventions can expect a small effect after 1-month of training.
Changes in Resting Systolic Blood Pressure
Time frame: Week 0-13
Elevated blood pressure (mmHg) during childhood and adolescents is associated with intermediate markers and hard outcomes of CVD in adulthood. Moderate-intensity exercise is negatively associated with blood pressure. Small changes in blood pressure can occur from as early as 1-month of endurance training.
Changes in Resting Diastolic Blood Pressure
Time frame: Week 0-13
Elevated blood pressure (mmHg) during childhood and adolescents is associated with intermediate markers and hard outcomes of CVD in adulthood. Moderate-intensity exercise is negatively associated with blood pressure. Small changes in blood pressure can occur from as early as 1-month of endurance training.
Changes in Body Weight
Time frame: Week 0-13
Body weight measured in kg using a off-the-shelf bathroom scale (Moss and Stone Body Electronic Scale, minimum 0, maximum 181kg). Higher weight indicates poorer health.
Lung Capacity (Baseline)
Time frame: Week 0
Lung capacity will be measured via peak expiratory flow rate (PEF; units: L/min) using a spirometer at the home.
Lung Capacity (Week 7)
Time frame: Week 7
Lung capacity will be measured via peak expiratory flow rate (PEF; units: L/min) using a spirometer at the home.
Lung Capacity (Week 13)
Time frame: Week 13
Lung capacity will be measured via peak expiratory flow rate (PEF; units: L/min) using a spirometer at the home.
2 secondary outcomes
Total Intervention Play Time
Time frame: Weeks 1-12
Adherence to the Exercise Intervention Prescription
Time frame: Weeks 1-12
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 Oct 2026.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 35976192Lai B, Davis D, Young R, Kimani-Swanson E, Wozow C, Wen H, Kim Y, Wilroy J, Rimmer J. The Effects of Virtual Reality Tele-exergaming on Cardiometabolic Indicators of Health Among Youth With Cerebral Palsy: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2022 Aug 17;11(8):e40708. doi: 10.2196/40708.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. De-identified data will be submitted into the NICHD Data and Specimen Hub (DASH). Intellectual property and data generated under this project will be administered in accordance with both University and NIH policies, including the NIH Data Sharing Policy and Implementation Guidance under notice NOT-OD-03-032 (released February 26, 2003)
Related trials for Cerebral Palsy
Not yet recruiting
Feasibility of a Robot-Guided Active Play Intervention for Children With Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy
Recruiting
Additional Effects on tDCS With AOT on Lower Limb Functions on Children With Diplegic CP
Diplegic Cerebral Palsy
Recruiting
Sensory Integration Therapy vs Conventional Physical Therapy in Children With Mixed Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy
Active, not recruiting
Functional Outcomes and Control Using Synchron BCI - Australia
Neurologic Disorder, Neurologic Diseases
Enrolling by invitationObservational study
Early Molecular Biomarkers for Differentiating Parkinsonian Syndromes
PARKINSON DISEASE (Disorder), Atypical Parkinsonism
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Byron Lai, PhD principal investigator
University of Alabama at Birmingham
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 1 study testing Virtual Reality Exergaming in people with Cerebral Palsy, run by University of Alabama at Birmingham at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 13 May 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Changes in C-reactive Protein (hsCRP) (time frame: Week 0-13). The study lists 13 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05336227, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 Oct 2026.