Virtual reality helps people with amputation reduce pain

The academics of the School of Computer Science and Psychological School have developed a virtual reality system that can create an illusion, the limb of a previously removed person remains on the body their. Virtual reality or virtual reality (VR for short) is a technique that allows users to interact in a computer-simulated environment that can be real , may be imaginary. Most virtual reality environments are mostly images displayed on a computer screen or through a three-dimensional viewfinder, but some simulations also have other senses like sound through speakers or ears. listen.

The computer system was created by Dr. Stephen Pettifer and Toby Howard of the School of Computer Science, making it possible to immerse patients in a vast, virtual reality world like real life.

By wearing a headset, patients can see themselves through two limbs. They can use the existing limb on their bodies to control computer-made limb movements, which appear in the 3D world created from computers with the presence of a part Their previous abortions.

The virtual reality world is as big as the real world (Photo: ScienceDaily)

For example, they can use their right arm to control the movement of their virtual left arm.

Patients will have complex coordination between the eyes and hands and can move their fingers, hands, arms, feet and lower legs. They can also use their virtual limbs to play ball games.

Phantom Limb Pain, also known as PLP, is very uncomfortable. The patient feels pain in the limb lost due to being removed. Previous studies have found that, when a person's brain is 'tricked' that if they can see and move ' spend a sore ghost ' (the part that has been removed), the pain The pain will be reduced.

So far, five Manchester patients - including one with PLP for 40 years - have used the virtual reality system for a few weeks in a small-scale study.

Despite its small size, this initial study has had surprising results. Four out of five patients reported that there was considerable pain relief for their spooky limb pain. Some patients also feel pain relief almost immediately after using the virtual reality system.

The Manchester University team's findings were recently presented at an important conference in Denmark on the use of virtual reality systems for health recovery.

Dr. Stephen Pettifer of the School of Computer Science said: Most people know 3D graphics and virtual reality systems through their use in the entertainment industry, in computer games and brands. Special applications in movies.

'It's great to be able to apply this same technique to something that can have a positive impact on people's health and happiness.'

Dr Craig Murray of the School of Psychological Sciences, who led the project, said: 'Many people who have their legs or arms removed go through ghostly pain and these pain often torture them. Ghostly pain can persist for years and it is difficult to treat them.

'A patient had the feeling that the fingers of her severed hand were being squeezed in her palm continuously, making her extremely painful. However, after only one use of the virtual system, she began to feel movements in those fingers and the pain began to ease. '

Each patient participated in the virtual reality system 7 to 10 times over a period of two to three months. The time of each use lasts about 30 minutes and during that time, the patient is wearing a special virtual reality headset.

Upper limb amputated patients wear a special data glove and have sensors attached to the elbows and wrist joints. For patients with lower limb amputation, sensors are attached to the knee and tendon. The movements of the head and arms are monitored.

Participants in this study included 3 males and 2 females between the ages of 56 and 65. This group of patients included 3 people who lost their arms and 2 lost their legs and they lost their limbs from 1 to 40 years ago.

The Manchester University team hopes that more patients will participate in their future studies, so they can identify patients who are able to achieve the benefits of the real system. virtual at which they develop this most.

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