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CompletedNCT02990507AVEEDUpdated Jun 18, 2018

Advanced Virtual Exercise Environment Device for Use by Persons With Physical Disabilities

An interventional study of AVEED: Arm rotation, video display and AVEED: Arm rotation, without video display in Physically Disabled, sponsored by University of Alabama at Birmingham. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2018-06-18.

Sponsored by University of Alabama at Birmingham · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
40
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

An Advanced Virtual Exercise Environment Device (AVEED) has been developed that incorporates arm and leg ergometers in conjunction with a virtual reality interface. The purpose of this study is to examine participant perspectives regarding the virtual interface and exercise device combination with regard to usability, comfort, safety, rating of perceived exertion, and enjoyment.

Read the detailed description

Individuals with physical disabilities show much lower rates of exercise participation than their able-bodied peers (Boslaugh et al. 2006, Preventing Chronic Disease). Much of the reason for the low rates of activity among this population come from the presence of barriers. Lack of motivation, lack of transportation, lack of accessible facilities and equipment, and cost are all factors that discourage exercise participation among those with disabilities (Rimmer et al. 2008, JRRD; Barfield and Malone 2013, JRRD). Based on these factors, there is a need for accessible enjoyable exercise options for people with physical disabilities. The AVEED is comprised of an ergometer with foot and hand pedals, and a visual display in front of the user that can show a variety of scenic pathways.

The AVEED builds on previous work that demonstrates the potential benefit of interactive exercise for those with physical disabilities. The present study will establish the potential of this device to provide an engaging moderate intensity exercise opportunity for persons with disabilities.

02

Conditions studied

  • Physically Disabled

Keywords

  • mobility impairment
  • virtual environment
  • exercise
  • physical activity
03

In context

Lead sponsor

University of Alabama at Birmingham is the lead sponsor of 1,396 studies on the registry; 284 are open to participants now.

Of its 156 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 124 (79%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Greater than 18 years old
  • Mobility impairment, able to push a manual wheelchair

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals without a disability
  • Individuals with vision loss that prevents them from seeing video elements on the screen
  • Individuals with unstable cardiovascular conditions
  • Individuals unable to push a manual wheelchair
  • Individuals unable to understand study directions.
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Other
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
40 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    AVEED

    AVEED is composed of arm and leg cranks that can be used independently or together with a virtual exercise environment (VEE). Participants rotate arm and/or leg cranks under 4 conditions for 5 min each with a 5 min rest between: 1) Arm rotation with VEE, while sitting or standing (AVEED: Arm rotation, video display); 2) Arm rotation without VEE, while sitting or standing (AVEED: Arm rotation, without video display); 3) Leg rotation with arm-energy input to assist the legs with VEE, while sitting (AVEED: Leg rotation, arm-energy input, video display); 4) Leg rotation with arm-energy input to assist the legs without VEE, while sitting (AVEED: Leg rotation, arm-energy input, without video display). VEE controlled with voice commands, leaning, or keyboard buttons.

    Other: AVEED: Arm rotation, video display · Other: AVEED: Arm rotation, without video display · Other: AVEED: Leg rotation, arm-energy input, video display · Other: AVEED: Leg rotation, arm-energy input, without video display

Interventions

  • OtherAVEED: Arm rotation, video display

    Participants rotate arm cranks for 5 minutes then rest for 5 minutes.

  • OtherAVEED: Arm rotation, without video display

    Participants rotate arm cranks for 5 minutes then rest for 5 minutes.

  • OtherAVEED: Leg rotation, arm-energy input, video display

    Participants rotate leg cranks for 5 minutes then rest for 5 minutes.

  • OtherAVEED: Leg rotation, arm-energy input, without video display

    Participants rotate leg cranks for 5 minutes then rest for 5 minutes.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Participant feedback

    Likert-style questions regarding ease of use, comfort, safety, and enjoyment related to using the device. Other questions will ask participants to compare the device with virtual interface to the device without the interface, as well as the likelihood of using their using the device if they had access to one.

    Time frame: 2 days (approximately 48 hours) after enrolling

Secondary outcomes

  1. Exercise intensity

    Percent heart rate reserve (%HRR) is a measure of exercise intensity and is calculated as (HR - HRrest)/(HRmax - HRrest). Maximum HR can be estimated using the Karvonen formula which states HRmax = 220 - age. The participant's HR will be monitored in real time via a Bluetooth enabled device strapped to the chest. The goal is for the participant to input energy into the AVEED system and maintain a rate that produces a HRR of approximately 60%. Exercising at a rate of 60% of their age-predicted HRR, would establish them within the range of intensity for cardiovascular improvement. Verbal cues will be provided to ensure participants stay between 50-70% of HRR. If the participant is unable to sustain this intensity they will be allowed to rest for 1-2 minutes and then start again. Data recorded by the system will include continuous HR and energy output (watts).

    Time frame: 2 days (approximately 48 hours) after enrolling

  2. Body orientation

    Video recordings will be used to assess how the participant's body is oriented in relation to the ergometer and their ease of use in rotating the cranks under the different conditions. the video will be scored using a 3 point likert scale: 1 being very poor body orientation to 3 being excellent orientation.

    Time frame: 2 days (approximately 48 hours) after enrolling

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Univerisity of Alabama at Birmingham
    Birmingham, Alabama 35294, United States
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 18, 2018, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02990507
Lead sponsor
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Collaborators
National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research
Responsible party
Laurie A Malone, PhD (Principal Investigator, University of Alabama at Birmingham) — Principal investigator
First posted
Dec 13, 2016
Start date
Feb 10, 2017
Primary completion
May 19, 2017
Completion
May 19, 2017
Last update
Jun 18, 2018

Study contacts

Sangeetha Padalabalanarayanan, MS
study director · University of Alabama at Birmingham

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Jun 2018. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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