Virtual Reality Therapy for Wrist and Hand Injury Recovery

Summary

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to find out whether an early neuro-functional rehabilitation program using virtual reality and action observation can improve recovery after a traumatic injury of the wrist or hand that requires immobilization in a cast or splint.

After a fracture or other traumatic injury, the wrist and hand often have to be immobilized for several weeks. This rest is necessary for the bone and soft tissues to heal, but it also has negative effects. The muscles become weaker, joint movement is reduced, and the sense of position and movement (proprioception) worsens. Immobilization also produces fast changes in the brain areas that control movement, which may slow down recovery and increase the risk of long-lasting pain, stiffness, and disability.

This study will compare two rehabilitation programs:

Control group: participants will receive conventional rehabilitation after the cast or splint is removed, following the usual care of the hand therapy and traumatology services.

Experimental group: in addition to conventional rehabilitation, participants will follow a specific program that combines action observation therapy with immersive virtual reality (AOT+VR). During each session, patients will watch first-person videos of functional wrist and hand movements through a virtual reality headset and then practice these same movements. The program includes about 12 sessions of 45 minutes over 6 weeks, starting during the immobilization period and continuing after the cast or splint is removed.

Adults between 18 and 70 years with traumatic injuries of the wrist and/or hand (such as distal radius, carpal or metacarpal fractures, or tendon and ligament injuries) who need immobilization for 2 to 8 weeks will be invited to participate.

Researchers will measure:

Sensorimotor cortical activity associated with action observation and execution using electroencephalography (EEG), pain, disability, and function of the upper limb using validated questionnaires, Physical measures such as wrist range of motion, grip strength, and proprioception, Psychological factors such as fear of movement and pain catastrophizing, Feasibility, adherence to the program, side effects, and patient satisfaction. The main hypothesis is that the AOT+VR program, started early during immobilization, will help maintain brain excitability, reduce pain and psychological barriers, and lead to faster and more complete functional recovery of the wrist and hand compared with conventional rehabilitation alone.

Conditions

• Wrist Injuries
• Hand and Upper Limb Trauma
• Muskuloskeletan Pain

Interventions

OTHER

Virtual reality

The AOT+VR intervention is distinguished by its novel application of immersive first-person perspective virtual reality combined with action observation therapy specifically during the immobilization period in traumatic wrist and hand injuries, targeting the critical early window (first 12-48 hours) when maladaptive neuroplasticity begins. Unlike previous studies focused on neurological patients or post-immobilization phases, this protocol integrates longitudinal assessment of sensorimotor cortical activity using electroencephalography (EEG) alongside functional and psychosocial measures, establishing direct correlations between cortical preservation and clinical recovery not previously documented in traumatic upper limb injuries.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Malaga

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

70 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-04-01

Primary Completion

2027-03-31

Completion

2028-01-31

Countries

• Spain

Study Locations