Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39080247›Full record

ArticleSpinal cord series and cases2024

Virtual walking therapy in neuropathic spinal cord injury pain: a feasibility study.

Gunther Landmann, Marina Aerni, Roger Abächerli, Mario Ernst, André Ljutow, Karina Ottiger-Böttger

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Spinal cord series and cases, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Effects of virtual walking on neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury: a systematic review.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Gunther Landmann *Neurology, Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-2018-2820
Marina Aerni *Institute of Physiotherapy, School of Health Professions, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland.
Roger AbächerliLucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), Horw, Switzerland.
Mario ErnstSwiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland.
André LjutowCentre for Pain Medicine, Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil, Switzerland.
Karina Ottiger-BöttgerCentre for Pain Medicine, Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil, Switzerland. karina.ottiger@paraplegie.ch.ORCID 0009-0002-1414-3267

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

STUDY

designA feasibility study.

objectivesChronic neuropathic pain is a prevalent comorbidity in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI), and current medical treatments remain unsatisfactory. New developments as virtual walking are emerging which has been established and further developed at our centre. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of our virtual walking setup in a small group of SCI patients.

settingThe study was conducted at the Swiss Paraplegic Centre in Nottwil, Switzerland.

methodsFour patients aged 22 to 60 years were observed during and after therapy. Three had complete paraplegia (levels Th4-Th8) with neuropathic at- and below-level pain, while one had incomplete paraplegia (Th10) with at-level pain. The primary outcome measured was satisfaction with acceptance of and adherence to virtual walking therapy, alongside suggestions for therapy improvements. Additionally, patients kept a pain diary and pain drawings to measure the extent of pain distribution and intensity before and after therapy. Therapy schedules included either two sessions per week for five weeks or five sessions per week for two weeks.

resultsThere was a sound satisfaction and good acceptance amongst participants. Support, duration, and number of sessions were perceived well and acceptable. Pain as a secondary outcome did not change during or after therapy in all but one patient which improved in pain intensity, pain quality as well as pain distribution.

conclusionResults suggest that our virtual walking setting is a feasible tool that should be further studied in patients with SCI-related chronic neuropathic pain.

Indexed as

Feasibility StudiesNeuralgiaSpinal Cord InjuriesWalkingAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedParaplegiaPatient SatisfactionYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID39080247
PMCPMC11289286

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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.