A Multisite Randomized Clinical Trial to Examine the Efficacy and Mechanisms of Immersive Virtual Walking Treatment for Neuropathic Pain in Spinal Cord Injury
The purpose of this study is to determine if playing a virtual reality walking game can help improve neuropathic pain in adults with chronic spinal cord injury.
⁃ The study will recruit individuals with complete injury (American Spinal Injury Association \[ASIA\] classification A) with lumbar, paraplegic, or low tetraplegic (C5-C7) injury. Additional criteria will include:
• Must have persistent NP symptoms that are of daily severity of at least 4/10 for 3 or more months
• Must endorse more than 2 items on a 7-item Spinal Cord Injury Pain Instrument, SCIPI
• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Must be more than one year post-injury to begin study (can be screened at an earlier time for eligibility)
• Must have mobile connectivity with usable service
• Must be stable on pain medication for 1 or more months
• Must be cleared on the VRWalk physical activity clearance scale
• Must not have motion sickness that interferes with daily life