Co-designing a novel extended reality intervention to support engagement with exercise treatment

Supporting sustained engagement with exercise-based rehabilitation for people with multiple sclerosis
Elderly man exercising with small dumbbells

Co-designing a novel extended reality intervention to support engagement with exercise treatment

Supporting sustained engagement with exercise-based rehabilitation for people with multiple sclerosis
Title: Co-designing a novel extended reality intervention to support engagement with exercise treatment
Funded by:
Funding amount: £128,869
Location: School of Psychology, Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­
Dates: 1 October 2026 – 30 September 2029
 

Overview

This project focuses on the co-design of an extended reality (XR) intervention, tailored to the needs of people with MS, to support sustained engagement with exercise-based rehabilitation.

Objectives 

In the first phase, the student will conduct co-design workshops alongside people with MS. The insights and strategies resulting from that collaborative process will be implemented in the subsequent build phase, where a novel XR tool will be developed and piloted. 
This solution will then be tested with an MS volunteer group in the final phase, where the effectiveness of the intervention will be evaluated based on participant engagement and motivation. We expect an approach that is more closely aligned with patient preference and need will lead to better engagement than traditional strategies for home-based exercise.

Context of the issue

XR is rapidly emerging as a promising tool for managing MS, offering the potential for flexible, personalised, and remote treatment options. However, systematic reviews of clinical trials have revealed great variability in its effectiveness, not only due to differences in implementation but also in people's responses to the technology.

How the project addresses the issue

The co-designed system will be developed by working directly with people with MS to identify what makes exercise motivating and achievable, and then building those priorities into a tailored XR tool. Testing this system with an MS volunteer group will show whether this patient driven approach leads to higher engagement than traditional home exercise methods.

Centre for the Psychology of Health and Wellbeing

The Centre for the Psychology of Health and Wellbeing (CPHW) at the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ brings together researchers in clinical, cognitive, social, and environmental psychology to understand and improve health in real-world contexts.
The CPHW's interdisciplinary research addresses health and wellbeing across the lifespan, and integrates theoretical models and methods from neuroscience, cognition and applied social and health psychology.
Blue rose petal with dew for the CPHW