Brain Activity Patterns in Persons With Spinal Cord Injury and Neuropathic Pain After a Virtual Walking Training Program

Rehabilitation
Pain
Online since 8 April 2024, updated 241 days ago

About this trial

This pilot study is enrolling 12 individuals with chronic spinal cord injury to test the effect of virtual walking therapy on neuropathic pain. If included, participants will receive virtual walking therapy over a period of six weeks. The participant's will see themselves walk from a third-person view as their head and trunk are projected over the feet of an actor walking. Changes in brain activity (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)) and brain metabolism (Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) will be measured. Final testing for pain and brain chemistry will be performed after 6 weeks of virtual walking therapy and after four weeks followup.

Included participants

Gender
All
Age
≥ 18 years
Injury level
C1 - S5
  • Severity (AIS)?
  • Time since injury
    ≥ 1 year
  • Injury type
  • Traumatic

    Healthy volunteers
    No
    C1-S5
    Additionally, participants must
    Be able to draw with a pen.
    Be able to swing their arms.
    Not have epilepsy.

    What’s involved

    Type

    Rehabilitation

    Details

    -participants will receive Virtual Walking therapy as part of the clinical routine, physiotherapeutical assessment, MRS and fMRI - Final testing will be performed 4 weeks after 6 weeks of virtual walking therapy (at 10 weeks).

    Potential benefits

    Main benefits

    Pain

    Additional benefits

    Arm/hand function

    Mental health and psychosocial factors

    Good to know: Potential benefits are defined as outcomes that are being measured during and/or after the trial.

    Wings for Life supports SCITrialsFinder

    Wings for Life has proudly initiated, led and funded the new version of the SCI Trials Finder website. Wings for Life aims to find a cure for spinal cord injuries. The not-for-profit foundation funds world-class scientific research and clinical trials around the globe.

    Learn more

    • Trial recruitment status
    • Ended
    • Trial start date
    • 30 Aug 2021
    • Organisation
    • Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil
    • Trial recruitment status
    • Ended
    • Trial start date
    • 30 Aug 2021
    • Organisation
    • Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil

    Wings for Life supports SCITrialsFinder

    Wings for Life has proudly initiated, led and funded the new version of the SCI Trials Finder website. Wings for Life aims to find a cure for spinal cord injuries. The not-for-profit foundation funds world-class scientific research and clinical trials around the globe.

    Learn more