The Treatment of Phantom Limb Pain Using Immersive Virtual Reality : Three Case Studies.

Murray, Craig and Pettifer, Stephen and Howard, Toby and Patchick, Emma and Caillette, Fabrice and Kulkarni, Jai and Bamford, Candy (2007) The Treatment of Phantom Limb Pain Using Immersive Virtual Reality : Three Case Studies. Disability & Rehabilitation, 29 (18). pp. 1465-1469. ISSN 1464-5165

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Abstract

Purpose: This paper describes the design and implementation of a case-study based investigation using immersive virtual reality as a treatment for phantom limb pain. Method: Three participants who experienced phantom limb pain (two with an upper-limb amputation, and one with a lower-limb amputation) took part in between 2-5 Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) sessions over a three week period. The movements of participants’ anatomical limbs were transposed into the movements of a virtual limb, presented in the phenomenal space of their phantom limb. Results: Preliminary qualitative findings are reported here to assess proof of principle for this IVR equipment. All participants reported the transferral of sensations into the muscles and joints of the phantom limb, and all participants reported a decrease in phantom pain during at least one of the sessions. The authors suggest the need for further research using control trials.

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