Filippo Moggioli, a PhD student from CEU San Pablo in Madrid, Spain, is visiting Arcadia for three months to collaborate with the Department of Physical Therapy on neck pain research using a virtual reality game.

Moggioli’s research focuses on understanding neck pain and controlling movement and posture. His study includes using advanced technologies like inertial sensors and virtual reality glasses to compare performances between those with neck pain and those who are asymptomatic. 

“I am currently working on validating a virtual reality game developed by our research group in collaboration with engineers from my university,” he explained. “The aim is to measure the reliability of this tool, which seeks to assess sensorimotor control in a more engaging and motivating way. To do this, we are mainly recruiting people with neck pain, as this is the most difficult group to find.”

His project will require participants to partake in a four-minute, immersive virtual reality game. Players find themselves aboard a spaceship, and their task is to destroy meteors and space debris to achieve the highest score. Moggioli’s study will take part in three sessions over three weeks.

“Through this research, I hope to demonstrate that the tool is reliable and capable of distinguishing between people with neck pain and asymptomatic individuals,” he explained. “If confirmed, this would be an important step towards the use of this serious game in clinical practice as an innovative tool for assessing neck pain. 

“I hope that it will be a fun and motivating experience for those who use it. I would like to see this type of tool contribute to making neck pain rehabilitation not only more effective, but also more attractive and enjoyable for patients in the future.”

Moggioli is an instructor to five entry-level PT students from CEU San Pablo who came to Arcadia for six weeks in the summer to study with the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. He is pursuing his PhD with an international mention, which requires completing a part of his research at a university outside of Spain. This prior connection and Arcadia’s collaboration agreement with CEU San Pablo made the decision to conduct his research here simple. 

“Every student who has come [to Arcadia] in the past has returned with extremely positive experiences both academically and personally,” he said. “Having conducted part of my research at an institution such as Arcadia will be a great added value for my professional future. The experience and prestige associated with this collaboration will open new doors and strengthen my academic and research profile. Being surrounded by high-level researchers working in different fields from my own will allow me to broaden my view of the scientific world and enrich my perspective. This exchange of ideas and approaches will be a source of inspiration for me to continue developing my own research path.”

To participate in this research project, make an appointment for a measurement here, or reach out to Moggioli at either fmoggioli@arcadia.edu or filippo.moggioli@ceu.es.