ArticleJournal of medical Internet research2021
Assessing the Feasibility of an Open-Source Virtual Reality Mirror Visual Feedback Module for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: Pilot Usability Study.
Article in Journal of medical Internet research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 23 citations in OpenAlex.
- Remapping Body Representation Using Virtual Reality in Chronic Neuropathic Pain: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Pooled it
- Use and efficacy of virtual, augmented, or mixed reality technology for chronic pain: a systematic review.Pain management · 2022Pooled it
- Sustained symptom reduction in complex regional pain syndrome with a novel home-based virtual reality program: a pilot study.Frontiers in neurology · 2025Trial
- Feasibility and psychophysical effects of immersive virtual reality-based mirror therapy.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2022Trial
- Feasibility and Efficacy of Commercial-Off-the-Shelf Virtual Reality Applications for Managing Chronic Pain and Enhancing Well-Being Among Older Adults in the Community: Mixed Methods Pilot Study.JMIR formative research · 2025Article
- Extended reality in anesthesia: a narrative review.Korean journal of anesthesiology · 2025Review
- Virtual Reality Interventions and Chronic Pain: Scoping Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- Immersive VR for upper-extremity rehabilitation in patients with neurological disorders: a scoping review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2024Article
- Usability Evaluation of a Knowledge Graph-Based Dementia Care Intelligent Recommender System: Mixed Methods Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2023Article
- Virtual reality in managing Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS): a scoping review.Frontiers in neurology · 2023Article
- Needs of people with rare diseases that can be supported by electronic resources: a scoping review.BMJ open · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundComplex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a rare and severe chronic pain condition, with effective treatment options not established for many patients. The underlying pathophysiology remains unclear, but there is a growing appreciation for the role of central mechanisms which have formed the basis for brain-based therapies such as transcranial magnetic stimulation and mirror visual feedback (MVF). MVF has been deployed in the treatment of CRPS using both conventional mirrors and virtual reality (VR).
objectiveThe aim of this study was to further investigate the use of VR in the treatment of patients with unilateral upper limb CRPS. VR has the potential advantage of more flexible and more motivating tasks, as well as the option of tracking patient improvement through the use of movement data.
methodsWe describe the development, acceptability, feasibility, and usability of an open-source VR program MVF module designed to be used with consumer VR systems for the treatment of CRPS. The development team was an interdisciplinary group of physical therapists, pain researchers, and VR researchers. Patients recruited from a pain clinic completed 3-5 visits each to trial the system and assessed their experiences in pre- and post-treatment questionnaires.
resultsAll 9 (100%) participants were able to use the system for 3, 4, or 5 trials each. None of the participants quit any trial due to cybersickness. All 9 (100%) participants reported interest in using the module in the future. Participants' reported average pain scores in the affected limb were not significantly different from baseline during treatment or after treatment (P=.16). We did not find a statistically significant effect on participants' self-reported average pain scores.
conclusionsWe propose that this module could be a useful starting point for modification and testing for other researchers. We share modifications to make this module usable with standalone headsets and finger tracking. Next steps include adapting this module for at-home use, or for use with participants with lower limb pain.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.