Volume 32 / Number 56 / 2026
EFFECTS OF VIRTUAL REALITY IN COMPARISON WITH CONVENTIONAL PHYSICAL THERAPY IN PARKINSON’S DISEASE: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL PROTOCOL
Montiha AZEEM, Umair AHMED, Syed Ali Behram SUBAZWARI, Hira Majeed BUTTA, Muhammad ISHAQ, Haleema IMRAN
Keywords
Parkinson’s disease, virtual reality rehabilitation, balance, fall risk.
Abstract
Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) represents a neuro-degenerative disorder which progresses through time characterized by bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor and postural instability. Virtual reality (VR) based rehabilitation offers an interactive method that helps users to enhance their balance and motor skills. Objective: To compare the effectiveness of VR-based rehabilitation with conventional physical therapy in improving balance and reducing fall risk in individuals with PD. Methods: At Shadman Medical Centre in Lahore, researchers will perform a single-blinded (assessor-blinded) randomized controlled trial. The study will recruit 62 participants who have PD between the ages of 45 to 65 through convenience sampling, then divide them into two groups through random assignment (1:1). Group A will receive VR-based rehabilitation treatment whereas Group B will receive conventional physiotherapy. Both groups will participate in three weekly sessions that will last for eight weeks. The research team will assess balance through their primary outcome which uses the Mini-BESTest assessment tool. The secondary outcomes of the study will be measured through Timed Up and Go (TUG) assessment and gait parameters and Falls Efficacy Scale assessment of fall risk. The researchers will conduct assessments at three different times which include baseline and post-intervention and follow-up. The researchers will analyze data with SPSS version 24 while setting significance at p value less than 0.05. Conclusion: Virtual reality may provide a promising adjunct to conventional physical therapy for improving balance and reducing fall risk in individuals with PD.
For citation: Azeem, M., Ahmed, U., Subazwari, S.A.B., Butt, H.M., Ishaq, M., Imran, H. (2026). Effects of Virtual Reality in Comparison with Conventional Physical Therapy in Parkinson’s Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol. Romanian Journal of Physical Therapy. 32(56),67-73.
https://www.doi.org/10.61215/RJPT.2026.32.56.67