An Immersive Virtual Environment for Phantom Limb Pain Rehabilitation

Phantom Limb Pain is a debilitating condition that affects a significant percentage of patients after loss of an arm or leg. These patients experience chronic pain and other unpleasant sensations in the missing limb, and the pain resists treatment. Previous research has demonstrated that pain levels can be reduced in some patients when they are immersed in a virtual environment that presents a 3D computer graphics visualisation of their missing limb, the movements of which are controlled by sensors attached to the remaining limb. In this paper we describe a novel approach to the implementation of such a system, using the Kinect game device for limb motion tracking, in conjunction with wireless motion sensors worn by the patient. We present some preliminary, but very encouraging, results based on an informal trial with a patient.