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RecruitingNCT04215679Updated Jun 22, 2025

Effect of Motor Imagery With Virtual Reality in Patients With Stroke

An interventional study of Three-dimensional immersive virtual reality application and Motor imagery in Stroke, sponsored by Abant Izzet Baysal University. Recruiting at 1 site in Turkey. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 80 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-06-22.

Sponsored by Abant Izzet Baysal University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was expected by Mar 2026, 7 months ago, but the record still lists the study as recruiting.
  • Started Dec 2021; still recruiting 4 years 10 months later.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
36
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 80 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Virtual reality applications in hemiplegia rehabilitation are gaining popularity. It is claimed that, apart from implementing a function, imagining that function can trigger synaptic connections.

Read the detailed description

Although the effects of non-three-dimensional virtual reality and motor imagination on the brain have been investigated in a study, such comparison has not been made between the three-dimensional virtual reality and motor imagery.

Considering these situations, the aim of this study is to compare the effect of three-dimensional (immersive) virtual reality and motor imagery on upper extremity functional recovery after stroke.

02

Conditions studied

  • Stroke

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Keywords

  • Virtual reality
  • Rehabilitation
03

In context

Stroke

7,286 studies on the registry are indexed under Stroke; 2,007 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 36 is below the median of 50 across 5,369 interventional studies indexed under Stroke.

Browse Stroke studies →

Lead sponsor

Abant Izzet Baysal University is the lead sponsor of 242 studies on the registry; 64 are open to participants now.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 80 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Diagnosed as stroke patient.
  • Speaks, reads and writes in Turkish.
  • Hand functions at 4, 5, 6 levels according to Brunnstrom.
  • Mini mental test score to be at least 24.
  • Volunteer for participation.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Neurological, orthopedic problems other than stroke.
  • To have motion sickness that cannot continue 3D application.
  • Individuals neglecting the affected side
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
36 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Three-dimensional immersive virtual reality application

    25 stroke patients between the ages of 18-80, stroke duration of less than 2 months and not more than 2 years whose mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores equal or above the 25 will be included in this study. Oculus Rift and Leap motion will be used to create an immersive interactive environment. Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Functional independence scale, self-care questionnaire,Action Research Arm Test, Fugl meyer upper extremity motor evaluations will be applied just before the rehabilitation program, after the application and at the end of 6 weeks.

    Other: Three-dimensional immersive virtual reality application

  • Active comparator
    Motor imagery

    25 stroke patients between the ages of 18-80, stroke duration of less than 2 months and not more than 2 years whose MMSE scores equal or above the 25 will be included in this study. Oculus Rift and Leap motion will be used to create an immersive interactive environment. Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Functional independence scale, self-care questionnaire,Action Research Arm Test, Fugl meyer upper extremity motor evaluations will be applied just before the rehabilitation program, after the application and at the end of 6 weeks.

    Other: Motor imagery

  • Active comparator
    Conventional physiotherapy

    25 stroke patients between the ages of 18-80, stroke duration of less than 2 months and not more than 2 years whose MMSE scores equal or above the 25 will be included in this study. Oculus Rift and Leap motion will be used to create an immersive interactive environment. Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Functional independence scale, self-care questionnaire,Action Research Arm Test, Fugl meyer upper extremity motor evaluations will be applied just before the rehabilitation program, after the application and at the end of 6 weeks.

    Other: Conventional physiotherapy

Interventions

  • OtherThree-dimensional immersive virtual reality application

    In this group, individuals will be included in a game program that will last for 3 days a week for a total of 6 weeks and 45 minutes a day. Individuals will use the IVR to rehabilitate functions that are frequently used in daily life through task-oriented games. The IVR device will be placed on the head of the individual by closing the eyes of the individual and the Leap Motion device will be used to enable individuals to see their own hands in a virtual reality environment. In order to ensure the safety of individuals, practices shall be carried out with the individual sitting in the chair and leaning against the back. A total of 3 different games will be used for upper extremity function, each game will be 15 minutes and the total session time will be 45 minutes.

  • OtherMotor imagery

    Motor imagery will be performed with the eyes closed. In addition, for the safety of the individual, the individual will sit comfortably in a chair in a quiet environment and sit back. In the motor imagery group, individuals will be shown videos of the 3 games for 2 times in the IVR group and will be asked to imagine that they perform the same functions in the IVR games. The motor imagery will be 3 days a week for a total of 6 weeks and 45 minutes per day (including rest periods).

  • OtherConventional physiotherapy

    Individuals in this group will be randomly recruited from hospitalized stroke volunteers. Since these individuals receive routine rehabilitation 5 days a week, they will be evaluated at the beginning and end of 18 sessions over a total period of 6 weeks. Conventional physiotherapy will include normal joint movements, muscle strengthening exercises, balance and mobility exercises, and exercises to improve daily life activity.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Jebsen Hand Function Test

    The test consists of 7 subtitles and is an objective and standardized test. The test consists of 7 subtitles: "writing a standard sentence", "flipping 5 cards", "picking up small objects", "feeding simulation", "arranging backgammon checkers", "carrying large light objects" and "carrying large heavy objects". The score of the test is the completion time of the test and is recorded in seconds

    Time frame: 6 weeks

  2. Action Reach Arm Test (ARAT)

    This scale is scored between 0-57 points and consists of 4 headings: gross grip, fine grip, fingertip grip, and gross motion. Each part is calculated over 3 points. 3 points mean that the test is done in a normal way, 2 points show the difficulty and abnormally long time for doing it, 1 point means that individual can partially complete the test and 0 points can not complete the test. The higher the score, the better the level.

    Time frame: 6 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Stroke impact scale (SIS)

    Turkish validity was done by Hantal et al. in 2014. It is a 9-stage scale that is scored between 0-57 points, with a higher score indicating a better condition and a lower score indicating a higher severity of stroke. Scoring is done separately for each title

    Time frame: 6 weeks

  2. Kinesthetic and visual imagery questionnaire

    It was developed in 2007 by Malouin et al. In this method, the participant is told about the desired movement and is asked to do so. Then the participant is asked to imagine as if he was watching the movement without making any movement. It is scored between 1-5 points. 1: no image, 5: as clear as the original. At the other stage, he is asked to imagine himself by feeling what he is doing and is scored between 1 and 5 points. 1 point: no sense, 5 points mean intense feeling as if he is making the move. The scale assesses both visual and kinesthetic imagery with each dimension being scored from 5 to 25 with higher scores indicating greater imagery clarity or intensity.

    Time frame: 6 weeks

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • Abant Izzet Baysal University
    Bolu, Merkez 14100, Turkey
    • Muhammed Nur ÖĞÜN, M.D · Contact · dr.mogun@gmail.com · +905072329466
    • Ramazan Kurul, Ph.D · Contact · ramazankurul2@hotmail.com · +905436414731
    • Ramazan Kurul, Ph.D · Principal investigator
    • Muhammed Nur Öğün, M.D. · Principal investigator
    • Şebnem Avcı, Ph.D · Principal investigator
    Recruiting
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 22, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04215679
Lead sponsor
Abant Izzet Baysal University
Responsible party
Ramazan KURUL (Assistant Professor, Abant Izzet Baysal University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jan 2, 2020
Start date
Dec 1, 2021
Primary completion
Mar 1, 2026 (estimated)
Completion
May 1, 2026 (estimated)
Last update
Jun 22, 2025

Study contacts

Şebnem AVCI, Ph.D
Contact
avciseb@hotmail.com
+905057811059
Ramazan KURUL, Ph.D
Contact
ramazankurul2@hotmail.com
+905436414731
Mustafa Fatih Yaşar, MD
principal investigator · Bolu Abant Izzet Baylsa University
Ramazan KURUL, Ph.D
principal investigator · Bolu Abant Izzet Baylsa University
Muhammed Nur Ögün, MD
principal investigator · Bolu Abant Izzet Baylsa University
Şebnem AVCI, Ph.D
study director · Bolu Abant Izzet Baylsa University

Oversight

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

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