Researchers at NeuRA and UNSW are looking for participants to participate in a study investigating the potential benefits of Virtual Reality Walking as a treatment for neuropathic pain resulting from Spinal Cord Injury (SCI).
Chronic neuropathic pain is common among people with SCI, and conventional treatments have limited effectiveness. Researchers are exploring alternative treatments that may help alleviate the pain and believe virtual reality walking could be a promising option.
Scientists think that neuropathic pain occurs in spinal cord injuries because the sensations coming from the eyes and up to the spinal cord to the brain do not match what the brain thinks it told the body to do. The ‘mismatch’ may result in brain changes that make neuropathic pain possible.
They hope to trick the brain into thinking it is walking by creating an illusion of walking through virtual reality, which may reverse the changes that cause neuropathic pain possible.
Participating in the study will involve playing either VR Game 1 or VR Game 2 for 10 minutes twice a day for 10-14 days. You will also need complete questionnaires at six different time points. Each series takes between 20-40 minutes to complete. The study will last approximately 12.5 months, and all equipment for the trial will be provided.
If you are interested in participating in this study and potentially benefiting from this innovative treatment approach, please visit the trial page for more details or to register your interest. Additionally, please access our Research Corner for more research projects.
