Fatigue influences embodiment perception and motor performance in multiple sclerosis subjects: a cross-sectional immersive virtual reality study.
Giulia Fregna, Gabriele Perachiotti, Andrea Baroni and 4 others
PMID 41291832WHAT IT FOUND
Fatigued MS patients moved their hands slower and felt less ownership of the virtual body than non-fatigued ones, despite similar disease severity.
VR training was highly enjoyable and safe for all, but MS itself did not worsen performance compared to healthy controls.
Key findings
01Higher subjective fatigue scores correlated significantly with slower hand movements and a reduced sense of motor agency in the virtual environment.
02Patients with high fatigue reported significantly lower body ownership and motor agency compared to non-fatigued patients, despite no differences in age, disease severity, or satisfaction.
03The immersive VR session was feasible and well-tolerated, with high satisfaction scores and no reported cybersickness or adverse effects.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study had a small sample size of 25 patients, so the findings need confirmation in larger trials. It was a single-session study, so it cannot determine how fatigue affects embodiment or performance over multiple sessions of VR training. The analysis of hand movement was limited to peak velocity and did not include other important measures like smoothness or accuracy. Self-reported measures of embodiment and satisfaction could have been influenced by the novelty of the VR technology.
Declared interests
The study was funded by Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multiplа.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that VR training itself causes fatigue or worsens embodiment. The study found that pre-existing high subjective fatigue was associated with slower movements and lower embodiment scores during a single VR session, not that the VR session induced these deficits.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →