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Virtual Walking to Reduce Chronic Neuropathic Pain in Subjects With SCI

Rehabilitation
Pain
Online since 20 January 2026, updated today
Curated trial

About this trial

This trial is enrolling 40 participants with chronic spinal cord injury to test the effect of virtual walking therapy on pain. If included, participants will be randomly assigned to complete 10 sessions over 2 weeks in one of 3 groups: virtual walking with a personalized avatar (the participant's upper body is combined with pre-recorded walking legs to create a full-body walking illusion); sham virtual walking without an avatar; or standard care only and participate in pain journalling and testing. Final testing of pain will be performed after 15 weeks.

Included participants

Gender
All
Age
18 - 75 years
Injury level
C1 - S5
  • Severity (AIS)?
    • AIS-A
    AIS-B
    AIS-C
    AIS-D
    Time since injury
    ≥ 6 months
  • Injury type

    • Traumatic

    Non-traumatic

    Healthy volunteers
    No
    C1-S5
    Additionally, participants must
    Speak German
    Have neuropathic pain of <4/10 at or below injury level

    What’s involved

    Type

    Rehabilitation

    Details

    - Participants will be randomly assigned to complete 10 sessions over 2 weeks in one of 3 groups: virtual walking with a personalized avatar, sham virtual walking without an avatar, or standard care only. - Final testing of pain will be performed after 15 weeks.

    Potential benefits

    Main benefits

    Pain

    Additional benefits

    Arm/hand function

    General health

    Mental health and psychosocial factors

    Sensory function

    Standing/walking/mobility

    Good to know: Potential benefits are defined as outcomes that are being measured during and/or after the trial.

    Wings for Life supports SCITrialsFinder

    Wings for Life has proudly initiated, led and funded the new version of the SCI Trials Finder website. Wings for Life aims to find a cure for spinal cord injuries. The not-for-profit foundation funds world-class scientific research and clinical trials around the globe.

    Learn more


    • Trial recruitment status
    • Recruiting soon
    • Trial start date
    • 1 Dec 2025
    • Organisation
    • Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil
    View on clinicaltrials.gov
    for more details
    • Trial recruitment status
    • Recruiting soon
    • Trial start date
    • 1 Dec 2025
    • Organisation
    • Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil
    View on clinicaltrials.gov
    for more details

    Wings for Life supports SCITrialsFinder

    Wings for Life has proudly initiated, led and funded the new version of the SCI Trials Finder website. Wings for Life aims to find a cure for spinal cord injuries. The not-for-profit foundation funds world-class scientific research and clinical trials around the globe.

    Learn more

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