title: Interactive virtual feedback improves gait motor imagery after spinal cord injury: An exploratory study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Motor imagery can improve motor function and reduce pain. This is relevant to individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) in whom motor dysfunction and neuropathic pain are prevalent. However, therapy efficacy could be dependent on motor imagery ability, and a clear understanding of how motor imagery might be facilitated is currently lacking. Thus, the aim of the present study was to assess the immediate effects of interactive virtual feedback on motor imagery performance after SCI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine individuals with a traumatic SCI participated in the experiment. Motor imagery tasks consisted of forward (i.e. simpler) and backward (i.e. more complex) walking while receiving interactive versus static virtual feedback. Motor imagery performance (vividness, effort and speed), neuropathic pain intensity and feasibility (immersion, distraction, side-effects) were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During interactive feedback trials, motor imagery vividness and speed were significantly higher and effort was significantly lower as compared static feedback trials. No change in neuropathic pain was observed. Adverse effects were minor, and immersion was reported to be good.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This exploratory study showed that interactive virtual walking was feasible and facilitated motor imagery performance. The response to motor imagery interventions after SCI might be improved by using interactive virtual feedback.
authors.affiliation: Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration (CIRRIS), Québec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Meyke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roosink
authors.affiliation: Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration (CIRRIS), Québec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Robitaille
authors.affiliation: Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration (CIRRIS), Québec, QC, Canada.|School of Psychology, Laval University, Québec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Philip L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration (CIRRIS), Québec, QC, Canada.|Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Québec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Laurent J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Bouyer
authors.affiliation: Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration (CIRRIS), Québec, QC, Canada.|Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Québec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mercier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D016138:Walking
keywords: Spinal cord injury; chronic pain; gait; virtual reality therapy; visual feedback