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After amputation games in virtual world helps against the phantom pain
Many people who have had their limbs amputated experience so-called phantom pains in the no longer existing body part. Scientists have now found that these can be alleviated by playing in virtual worlds.
Video games against phantom pain
Computer games do not necessarily have the best reputation. Parents fear that playing many games harms children and makes them aggressive. However, it is not scientifically proven that certain PC games trigger violent excesses - as is sometimes claimed. On the contrary, there are even studies that conclude that video games can be good for brain development. And Swedish researchers have now discovered that gambling in virtual worlds can alleviate phantom pain after amputations.
One study found that people with amputated limbs can alleviate their phantom pain by playing in virtual worlds. (Image: Iryna Tiumentseva / fotolia.com) Duration, frequency and intensity of the pain decreased
A study by Swedish scientists has shown that people with amputated limbs can alleviate their phantom pain by playing in virtual worlds.
In the study, the results of which were published in the British journal The Lancet, the 14 subjects, each lacking an arm, should use their supposedly missing body part on the computer. Later, the patients reported that the phantom pain was losing duration, frequency, and intensity.
Motor brain areas are activated
"The motor areas in the brain that are needed for the movement of the amputee arm are reactivated, and the patient receives a visual feedback that gives the brain the belief that there is an arm that performs such motor commands. He finds out as a whole, with the amputated arm back in place, "said lead study author Max Ortiz-Catalan of Gothenburg's Chalmers University of Technology, according to" BBC. ".
No uniform therapeutic approach
For the treatment of phantom pain there is so far no uniform therapeutic approach. Among other things, psychosomatic therapies or drugs are used.
A few years ago researchers from the Medical University of Vienna (MedUni) achieved good results with the mirror therapy for phantom pains of leg amputees.
However, this method, which uses the power of illusion, does not help everyone, especially non-amputees.
Similar approach as in the mirror therapy
The Swedish scientists followed a similar approach in their study. To do this, they attached sensors on the stump of the arm to those who already had an amputee arm for two to 36 years, measuring the remaining muscle activity.
Using this information, a computer program created a virtual arm on the screen. Then the subjects were asked in sessions to train their virtual arm, including a car racing game.
It was found that the intensity as well as the quality and frequency of phantom pain almost halved on average. In addition, subjects reported that their sleep was interrupted less frequently, they were able to lower the dose of their painkillers, or their activities were less disrupted by pain.
The new method has proven to be "effective in patients with phantom pain who have not had other therapies," says the website of the Swedish university. It is already working on a further development. (Ad)