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Virtual reality may help relieve phantom limb pain.
In a recent study, patients experienced reduced phantom
limb pain after playing an augmented reality car racing
game that required them to move the missing limb. Phantom
limb pain is the experience of pain in a limb after it has been
amputated.
The underlying mechanisms responsible for phantom limb pain remain unclear. However, it appears that it may arise as a consequence of abnormal neural circuitry in central areas of the brain.
Limited success has been achieved with mirror therapy in which reflections of the unaffected limb can be used to create the illusion that the amputated limb is moving.
The underlying mechanisms responsible for phantom limb pain remain unclear. However, it appears that it may arise as a consequence of abnormal neural circuitry in central areas of the brain.
Limited success has been achieved with mirror therapy in which reflections of the unaffected limb can be used to create the illusion that the amputated limb is moving.
The latest study has taken the mirror therapy concept a step
further; patients visualise and 'move' the phantom limb using
augmented reality—‘phantom motor execution’. It was
conducted in 14 patients who had been experiencing
phantom limb pain since the amputation of an arm.
Sensors that could detect muscular activity were attached to the stump of the missing arm. The signals received by these sensors were then used to produce an image of an active arm on a computer screen.
Patients were trained to use these signals to control the virtual arm, drive a virtual race car around a track and to copy the movements of an arm on screen with their phantom movements. After twelve 2-hour treatment sessions, the patients underwent follow-up interviews 1, 3 and 6 months later.
Based on the patients' ratings, the intensity, quality, and frequency of pain had reduced by 50% after the treatment.
At the start of the study, 12 patients reported feeling constant pain whereas only 6 did 6months after the treatment. However, one patient thought that there was not a considerable difference in the levels of phantom pain before and after treatment.
Sensors that could detect muscular activity were attached to the stump of the missing arm. The signals received by these sensors were then used to produce an image of an active arm on a computer screen.
Patients were trained to use these signals to control the virtual arm, drive a virtual race car around a track and to copy the movements of an arm on screen with their phantom movements. After twelve 2-hour treatment sessions, the patients underwent follow-up interviews 1, 3 and 6 months later.
Based on the patients' ratings, the intensity, quality, and frequency of pain had reduced by 50% after the treatment.
At the start of the study, 12 patients reported feeling constant pain whereas only 6 did 6months after the treatment. However, one patient thought that there was not a considerable difference in the levels of phantom pain before and after treatment.
Adaptado de: <https://www.news-medical.net/news/20161202/Virtual-reality-may-help-relieve-phantom-limb-pain.aspx?utm_source=TrendMD&utm_medium=cpc&utm_> (Acessado em 11 de
outubro de 2017).
Phantom limb pain