Participate in Research

VIVA: Virtual Intervention for Vertebral Fractures

Overview 

VIVA aims to determine the feasibility of a study evaluating whether people with spine fractures would benefit from education and training on pain management, nutrition, safe movement, and exercise. Vertebral fractures due to osteoporosis can cause pain and disability. Most people will be offered medications for osteoporosis and for pain, if applicable, but there is no standard rehabilitation for people with spine fractures. The VIVA study tests whether enough participants will join and complete a study examining the effectiveness of an intervention involving pain management, nutrition, safe movement, and exercise, and to understand their experience with the VIVA intervention. The results may be used as a guide for larger studies.

What will be done?

After receiving consent, research staff at Arthritis Research Canada may need to request participants’ permission to access their medical records (x-ray/imaging) to confirm eligibility for the study. Once enrolled, research staff at Arthritis Research Canada will meet with participants virtually to provide orientation for the technology we will use in the study. Participants will be scheduled for their first study assessment, which can be done virtually or in person, and participants will also be provided with questionnaires to complete. Study assessments will involve completing questionnaires, a test involving balance, and a test assessing how often a participant can get up from a chair. After the first assessment, participants will be randomized to either Group 1 or Group 2. Group 1 will receive the VIVA intervention right after being randomized. Group 2 will receive the VIVA intervention 10 weeks after starting the study. The VIVA intervention includes once-weekly virtual sessions with a study exercise professional for 8 weeks. Each session will last for about 45-60 minutes, where participants will learn about and practice different exercises and movement techniques, discuss nutrition, create goals for the next session, and receive educational materials (e.g., summaries, pictures, videos) using an exercise app or other virtual communications. Participants may be asked to complete exercises or practice movements on their own. Participants will report falls, injuries, or health problems through questionnaires once a month. Participants will also log any exercises they do. At the end of the rehabilitation program, participants will attend a short virtual or telephone interview with research staff at the University of Waterloo about their experience in the study.

Participation in this study includes

  1. Consenting to participate in the study and allowing the research team to access your medical records to confirm eligibility
  2. Attending a meeting with the research team to receive orientation on the technology used in this study
  3. Attending the first study assessment, filling out the associated questionnaires, and completing the tests that involve balance and getting up from a chair
  4. Attending weekly virtual sessions with a study exercise professional to learn about and practice different exercises and movement techniques, discuss nutrition, create goals for next session, and receive educational materials (e.g., summaries, pictures, videos)
  5. Completing exercises, you have been asked to complete by your study exercise professional
  6. Logging any exercises you do and reporting on any falls, injuries, or health problems each month
  7. Attending a virtual interview at the end of the study with the research staff at the University of Waterloo about your experience in the study.

Who can participate?

YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE IF YOU:

  • Aged ≥50 years
  • ≤12 weeks post-vertebral fracture, or are >12 weeks post-vertebral fracture and have persistent fracture-related pain
  • Willing to participate in once weekly virtual rehabilitation sessions for 8 weeks
  • Have access to internet and smart device with a camera and microphone

Want to find out more?

Interested in participating in this study? Please contact the research team.
Email: viva@arthritisresearch.ca
Phone: (604) 207-4040

 

 

The University of British Columbia’s Clinical Research Ethics Board as application number H24-01720.

Share This

Share This

Share this post with your friends!