CASE STUDY
Immersive Virtual Reality to improve physiotherapy care of children and young people with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
UNMET NEED
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disease that causes muscle weakness and wasting and affects 2,500 people in the UK. Children and young people (CYP) with DMD need to undertake a daily stretching programme to maintain maximum muscle extensibility and optimise function. However, many CYP are not motivated to perform these exercises, leading to earlier complications, reduced function, and a poorer long-term prognosis.
SOLUTION
The collaborative research group have previously demonstrated that an interactive Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) system can improve the delivery, engagement, and success of physiotherapy for adult amputees, burns’ patients, and CYP with upper limb injuries. The team was recently awarded funding to determine if IVR can improve physiotherapy treatments for CYP with DMD.
STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT BEFORE WORKING WITH NIHR CYP MEDTECH
Basic idea
Concept development
Prototype development
Prototype validation
Clinical testing
Regulatory approval
Manufacturing
Commercially available
SUPPORT PROVIDED BY NIHR CYP MEDTECH
Access to NHS clinical teams
NIHR CYP MedTech facilitated a collaboration between Impact VR at Sheffield Hallam University and the clinical teams at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Support and guidance to secure funding
NIHR CYP MedTech supported the project team by identifying relevant funding calls and leading on the successful grant application.
Project management
NIHR CYP MedTech are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the project. Professor Paul Dimitri, Director of NIHR CYP MedTech, is the Chief Investigator for this study.
NEXT STEPS
Once the relevant approvals have been received, the team will conduct a development workshop with clinicians, physiotherapists, parents, carers, and CYP with DMD to explore core IVR rehabilitation scenarios.
The IVR platform will subsequently be developed to emulate current DMD physiotherapy regimes which will be tested in a trial with 16 CYP with DMD. The effect of the IVR system on improving ankle range of movement, motor function, and compliance/adherence will be determined. Qualitative interviews and questionnaires will also be conducted with participants to obtain feedback on acceptability and practicality of using IVR for clinical use.
IMPACT
We aim to develop the first dedicated and NHS developed IVR system to support physiotherapy for CYP with DMD. This study will help determine if an IVR system can improve CYP’s engagement with physiotherapy exercises. The team will also assess staff, parent, and child and young person satisfaction with using the new technology.
FUNDING
The project team successfully secured funding from The Children’s Hospital Charity. If this initial study shows that the IVR system is effective for CYP with DMD, the project team will apply for additional funding to assess the technology across multiple NHS sites.
PARTNERS
Last updated: 18 May 2022
