Virtual Reality Aided Visualisation Therapy for Reduction of Phantom Limb Pain

1. Abstract The aim of the research is to develop a new therapy for the relief of phantom limb pain (PLP) using a virtual reality environment. PLP is pain which is felt in a limb which is missing through amputation. The therapy will be derived from an existing therapy which uses a system of mirrors to mirror an existing limb in such a way that it appears that the amputated limb is still there. The main focus of the research is to emulate the existing mirror technique using an immersive virtual reality environment then to extend and develop the technique such that it can be deployed as part of a therapy to aid the rehabilitation of sufferers of PLP. The research involves developing a technique for projecting a virtual representation of a subject into a virtual environment using a HeadMounted Display (HMD) and using this to project movement into the virtual environment which mirrors the tracking of a good limb. Once established this mechanism will be used to investigate the nature of synaesthesia, sensation triggered by stimulation which is normally associated with a different sensation, or cortical reorganisation. The final aim is to develop a method for analysing signals generated by electromyography, a means of collecting nerve impulses from surfacemounted sensors, to determine and project intended movement directly to the virtual limb and provide the basis for a preliminary study which will establish the practicability of rehabilitation of subjects experiencing PLP using this technique.