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 and 5 immersive virtual reality (IVR) sessions over a 3-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 transferal 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. CONCLUSION: The authors suggest the need for further research using control trials.
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 and 5 immersive virtual reality (IVR) sessions over a 3-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 transferal 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. CONCLUSION: The authors suggest the need for further research using control trials.
Authors: Gianluca Castelnuovo; Emanuele M Giusti; Gian Mauro Manzoni; Donatella Saviola; Arianna Gatti; Samantha Gabrielli; Marco Lacerenza; Giada Pietrabissa; Roberto Cattivelli; Chiara A M Spatola; Stefania Corti; Margherita Novelli; Valentina Villa; Andrea Cottini; Carlo Lai; Francesco Pagnini; Lorys Castelli; Mario Tavola; Riccardo Torta; Marco Arreghini; Loredana Zanini; Amelia Brunani; Paolo Capodaglio; Guido E D'Aniello; Federica Scarpina; Andrea Brioschi; Lorenzo Priano; Alessandro Mauro; Giuseppe Riva; Claudia Repetto; Camillo Regalia; Enrico Molinari; Paolo Notaro; Stefano Paolucci; Giorgio Sandrini; Susan G Simpson; Brenda Wiederhold; Stefano Tamburin Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2016-02-19
Authors: Joan Llobera; Mar González-Franco; Daniel Perez-Marcos; Josep Valls-Solé; Mel Slater; Maria V Sanchez-Vives Journal: Exp Brain Res Date: 2012-12-07 Impact factor: 1.972