NCT07498816 Impact of Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) on Respiratory Effort: A Pilot Study in Healthy Adults
| NCT ID | NCT07498816 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile |
| Condition | Virtual Reality |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 10 participants |
| Start Date | 2025-10-01 |
| Primary Completion | 2026-03-20 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.
What to Expect as a Participant
You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.
This trial targets 10 participants in total. It began in 2025-10-01 with a primary completion date of 2026-03-20.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
This pilot randomized crossover study will evaluate the acute effects of immersive virtual reality (IVR) on respiratory effort during submaximal exercise in healthy adults. Dyspnea and increased respiratory effort are influenced not only by mechanical and metabolic factors, but also by emotional and central neural inputs. IVR has shown potential to reduce anxiety, promote relaxation, and modulate physiological responses, but its direct effect on respiratory effort has not been adequately studied. Healthy adults will complete two experimental exercise sessions: one session with IVR and one session without IVR, in randomized order. In both conditions, participants will perform a 6-minute constant-load cycling test at a submaximal workload individualized from a prior incremental exercise test. Respiratory effort will be assessed continuously using esophageal pressure monitoring. Additional measurements will include ventilatory variables, perceived dyspnea, acute state anxiety, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and heart rate variability. The primary aim is to determine whether IVR reduces respiratory effort compared with the control condition. This pilot study is intended to provide physiological evidence on the potential role of IVR as a non-pharmacological strategy to modulate respiratory effort and dyspnea, and to inform future research in clinical populations.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy adults aged 18-40 years * Ability to perform cycle ergometer exercise testing * No known history of cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, or metabolic disease Exclusion Criteria: * Current respiratory symptoms or acute illness * Known cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, or metabolic disease * Use of medications that may affect respiratory or cardiovascular responses to exercise * Contraindications to exercise testing according to standard clinical guidelines * Pregnancy * Inability to tolerate placement of an esophageal balloon catheter * Susceptibility to motion sickness or discomfort with immersive virtual reality devices
Contact & Investigator
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT07498816 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, up to 40 Years, studying Virtual Reality. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT07498816 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT07498816 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at gavaldivia@uc.cl for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT07498816 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Santiago, Chile.
Who is sponsoring the NCT07498816 clinical trial?
NCT07498816 is sponsored by Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. The trial plans to enroll 10 participants.