Enhancing Abilities in Amputees and Patients With Peripheral Neuropathy Through Restoration of Sensory Feedback

Launched by ETH ZURICH · Dec 31, 2019

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is investigating a new way to help amputees and patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy feel more connected to their bodies and reduce pain. Many amputees experience Phantom Limb Pain, which is when they feel pain in a limb that is no longer there. This trial will use a special system that sends electrical signals to the skin to create a sense of touch or feedback from a prosthetic limb. The goal is to see if this feedback improves how well participants can perform tasks—like walking or climbing stairs—and reduces their pain.

To participate, individuals must be between 18 and 70 years old and have either a lower limb amputation or diabetic peripheral neuropathy. They should be generally healthy, able to walk, sit, and stand independently, and not have any severe cognitive or psychological issues. Participants will engage in various activities, including some in virtual reality, to assess their movement and sensations while using the feedback system. This trial aims to enhance their functional abilities and overall quality of life.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • transfemoral amputation or transtibial amputation or knee disarticulation or diabetic peripheral neuropathy
• • the subject should be healthy other than the amputation and the diabetic neuropathy and in the range of 18-70 years old
• • the subject should be able to comfortably walk, sit and stand alone
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • cognitive impairment
• • pregnancy
• • Prior or current psychological diseases such as borderline, schizophrenia, Depression or Maniac Depression
• • acquired brain injury with residual impairment
• • excessive sensitivity or pain to electrical stimulation with surface electrodes
• • cybersickness