Using an Interactive Game to Reduce Fear and Increase Spine Motion in Low Back Pain
Status: | Completed |
---|---|
Conditions: | Back Pain, Back Pain |
Therapuetic Areas: | Musculoskeletal |
Healthy: | No |
Age Range: | 18 - 50 |
Updated: | 4/13/2015 |
Start Date: | December 2014 |
End Date: | April 2016 |
Contact: | James S Thomas, P.T., Ph.D. |
Email: | thomasj5@ohio.edu |
Phone: | 740-593-4178 |
Using an Interactive Game to Reduce Fear & Increase Spine Motion in Low Back Pain
A fundamental clinical problem in individuals with chronic low back pain is the significant
alteration in movement patterns that restrict lumbar spine motion. This is particularly true
for individuals with fear of re-injury with movement (i.e., kinesiophobia). The primary
aims of the current study are to use a whole body video game environment to 1) determine the
effects of game play on lumbar spine flexion and expectations of pain and harm and 2)
determine the effects of altered movement gain on lumbar spine flexion.
alteration in movement patterns that restrict lumbar spine motion. This is particularly true
for individuals with fear of re-injury with movement (i.e., kinesiophobia). The primary
aims of the current study are to use a whole body video game environment to 1) determine the
effects of game play on lumbar spine flexion and expectations of pain and harm and 2)
determine the effects of altered movement gain on lumbar spine flexion.
Using a 2 groups (Game, Control) between subjects design, the investigators will assess the
influence of participation in a computer game of virtual dodge ball that requires whole-body
reaching movements to manipulate an on-screen avatar. Further, the investigators will
gradually reduce the gain of lumbar spine motion of the participant's on-screen avatar
across the three game sessions such that participants will need to produce progressively
larger excursions of the lumbar spine to manipulate their avatar's spinal motion.
Specifically, in game session 1, the spine motion of the avatar is equal to that of the
participant (gain=1); in session 2 spine motion of the avatar is 5% less than the
participant (gain=0.95); in session 3 spine motion of the avatar is 10% less than the
participant (gain=0.90). The investigators will recruit participants with chronic low back
pain and kinesiophobia. Participants in the GAME condition will complete laboratory sessions
on five consecutive days. Session 1 (baseline) and Session 5 (post-test) will be used to
assess lumbar spine motion and expectations of pain and harm during standardized reaching
tasks. In sessions 2 through 4 they will play the virtual dodge ball game. Participants in
the CONTROL condition will complete baseline and post-test standardized reaching tasks, but
will not play the game in the intervening three days.
influence of participation in a computer game of virtual dodge ball that requires whole-body
reaching movements to manipulate an on-screen avatar. Further, the investigators will
gradually reduce the gain of lumbar spine motion of the participant's on-screen avatar
across the three game sessions such that participants will need to produce progressively
larger excursions of the lumbar spine to manipulate their avatar's spinal motion.
Specifically, in game session 1, the spine motion of the avatar is equal to that of the
participant (gain=1); in session 2 spine motion of the avatar is 5% less than the
participant (gain=0.95); in session 3 spine motion of the avatar is 10% less than the
participant (gain=0.90). The investigators will recruit participants with chronic low back
pain and kinesiophobia. Participants in the GAME condition will complete laboratory sessions
on five consecutive days. Session 1 (baseline) and Session 5 (post-test) will be used to
assess lumbar spine motion and expectations of pain and harm during standardized reaching
tasks. In sessions 2 through 4 they will play the virtual dodge ball game. Participants in
the CONTROL condition will complete baseline and post-test standardized reaching tasks, but
will not play the game in the intervening three days.
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Answer Yes to the following:
- Have you had low back pain constantly or on most days for the last 3 months?
- Has your back pain caused you to seek medical care?
2. Low back pain is classified from category 1 (back pain that does not radiate) through
category 3 (back pain that radiates beyond the knee, but without neurological signs)
on the Classification System of the Quebec Task Force on Spinal Disorders.
3. Report elevated levels of kinesiophobia.
4. Report no health conditions that may restrict movement or preclude safe
participation.
Exclusion Criteria:
Individuals must not:
1. Have a personal history of the following neurological disorders: Alzheimer's,
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's, Stroke
2. Have a personal history of the following cardiorespiratory disorders: Congestive
heart failure, Heart attack in past 24 months
3. Have a personal history of the following musculoskeletal disorders: Rheumatoid
Arthritis, pathologic fractures of the spine, avascular necrosis or osteonecrosis,
severe osteoarthritis.
4. Have a personal history of spine surgery or a hip arthroplasty
5. Have active cancer or recent, unexplained weight loss
6. Report being blind
7. Report being pregnant
8. Report current or pending litigation related to back pain
9. Currently be taking narcotic medication
10. Score in the clinically significant range for substance abuse (Drug Abuse Screening
Test (DAST) > 6), alcohol abuse (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C)
> 4), or depression (Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) > 16).
We found this trial at
1
site