Data set - Immersive virtual reality rehabilitation after lower limb surgery in paediatric patients

Summary

Patients who have undergone lower limb surgery require rehabilitation to regain movement and function in the affected leg. Unfortunately, physical rehabilitation can be painful, reducing compliance and recovery. This feasibility study aimed to demonstrate that immersive virtual reality (IVR) applications can offer potential benefits, including reduced anxiety and pain distraction for children during gait rehabilitation, increased engagement and enjoyment, and improved perceived walking quality. This study involved the design of a bespoke immersive virtual reality (IVR) system, co-designed through an iterative process that included a workshop. After a clinical feasibility trial was performed with 15 children aged 11–16 who required weight-bearing rehabilitation following lower limb surgery. A mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) approach and a multidirectional perspective (patients, parents, and physiotherapists) were adopted to measure. Changes in anxiety (General Anxiety Disorder-7) and pain (visual analogue scale) before and after the intervention were assessed. Usability (SUS) of the system was also analysed. Qualitative data were collected through interviews with children, their parents, and physiotherapists, focusing on their experiences, satisfaction, perceived effectiveness, and acceptability, as well as the usability and engagement of the IVR intervention. These preliminary results will inform improvements to the system in a future multi-site study with a large calculated sample size to demonstrate its clinical effectiveness and safety in acquiring medical device markings and adoption.

Keywords:	Anxiety, Pain, VAS, GAD-7, Usability, SUS, Immersive virtual reality, physical rehabilitation, lower limb surgery, paediatric
Creators:	Phelan, Ivan http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5120-8256 Carrion-Plaza, Alicia http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7815-1472
Contributors:	Contact Person Phelan, Ivan http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5120-8256
Academic units:	Library and Student Support Services > Library Services
Funders:	Funder Name Grant Number Funder ID Medical Research Council - Confidence in Concept 162345
Publisher of the data:	SHU Research Data Archive (SHURDA)
Publication date:	25 February 2025
Data last accessed:	31 October 2025
DOI:	http://doi.org/10.17032/shu-0000000230
URL of the data (if published elsewhere):	https://doi.org/10.1177/18758894241313093
SHURDA URI:	https://shurda.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/230
Additional details Additional details Types of data: Dataset Collection period: From To 21 December 2021 18 May 2022 Geographic coverage: Sheffield Data collection method: - After each session, patients self-reported their anxiety and perceived pain levels in their individual booklets. - Interviews were conducted by an experienced interviewer, who was not involved in the administration of the trial. They were collected at the end of the trial from participants and clinicians. - The usability scale was self-reported in its printed version at the end of the trial. Data processing and preparation activities: Original printed self-reported scales were collected at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and then collected for the a research to being coded and analysed by excel and SPSS v.26.40 in the SHU office. Interviews were audio recordings and encrypted using a Dictaphone, transcribed, and subsequently deleted. Transcriptions were anonymised and coded for content analysis. Both the transcriptions and the Excel document containing the coding framework are available in the deposit. Statement on legal, ethical and access issues: The original paper documents are kept in a locked drawer in a secure room at Sheffield Hallam University, Impact VR lab office. Resource language: English Metadata language: English Depositing User: Alicia Carrion-Plaza Date Deposited: 31 Oct 2025 14:40 Last Modified: 31 Oct 2025 14:41