Treating Lower Phantom Limb Pain in the Postoperative Acute Care Setting Using Virtual Reality: Protocol for a 4-Phase Development and Feasibility Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Phantom limb pain (PLP) affects most people living with lower limb amputations (LLAs). Nonpharmacological interventions, such as graded motor imagery (GMI), have demonstrated promise as PLP treatments. However, GMI access is limited by low patient buy-in and long public outpatient wait times. Considering PLP has been shown to be more prevalent and severe immediately following LLA, there is an urgent need to bypass barriers to allow for prompt access to PLP interventions. In response to this need, the multidisciplinary research team in this study developed a virtual reality (VR) program that administers GMI treatment. This novel intervention may be completed independently and promptly within the postoperative acute care setting. Before conducting a randomized controlled t

SUBMITTER: El-Gabalawy R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12144477 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature