Virtual Reality Treatment Displaying the Missing Leg Improves Phantom Limb Pain: A Small Clinical Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a common and in some cases debilitating consequence of upper- or lower-limb amputation for which current treatments are inadequate.

Objective

This small clinical trial tested whether game-like interactions with immersive VR activities can reduce PLP in subjects with transtibial lower-limb amputation.

Methods

Seven participants attended 5-7 sessions in which they engaged in a visually immersive virtual reality experience that did not require leg movements (Cool! ^TM), followed by 10-12 sessions of targeted lower-limb VR treatment consisting of custom games requiring leg movement. In the latter condition, they controlled an avatar with 2 intact legs viewed in a head-mounted display (HTC Vive ^TM). A motion-tracki

SUBMITTER: Ambron E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8754350 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature