Interactive virtual feedback improves gait motor imagery after spinal cord injury: An exploratory study

The study explores how interactive virtual feedback impacts motor imagery performance in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Motor imagery involves mentally rehearsing a movement without physically performing it, and it can potentially improve motor function and reduce pain, which are common challenges for individuals with SCI. Participants performed motor imagery tasks involving forward and backward walking while receiving either interactive virtual feedback (where their movements controlled an avatar) or static visual feedback. The study assessed vividness, effort, and speed of motor imagery, as well as neuropathic pain intensity and feasibility aspects. The findings suggest that interactive virtual walking is feasible and enhances motor imagery performance in individuals with SCI. Interactive feedback led to improved vividness and speed of motor imagery, as well as reduced effort, indicating its potential to improve motor imagery interventions after SCI.

• 1
  Interactive virtual feedback significantly improved motor imagery vividness and speed compared to static feedback.
• 2
  Interactive virtual feedback significantly reduced the effort required for motor imagery compared to static feedback.
• 3
  There was no significant change in neuropathic pain intensity during the experiment, although one participant reported a substantial pain reduction during the trials.