RESTORE aims to determine if interacting with a virtual reality walking game while simultaneously receiving light pressure on the sole of each foot can help restore/improve sensation in adults with an AIS* Grade A (complete) or B (incomplete) thoracic spinal cord injury (*AIS - American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale).

Spinal cord injury is associated with either total or partial loss of both movement and sensation below the level of injury. In a recent study we found that 50% of individuals with a complete SCI have some surviving spinal nerve fibres across the injury site. This means that even though an individual cannot feel a touch sensation below the injury level, the touch signal might still reach their brain through these surviving fibres.

In this trial, using virtual reality googles and handheld controllers, you will be able to control your virtual legs and walk around virtual worlds. When you are walking virtually, your brain has the illusion that you are actually walking. This activates the part of the brain that controls sensation and movement. At the same time as you are doing this ‘illusory’ walking, we will apply walking type light pressure to the soles of your feet in the real world using an adapted foot massager device. By applying this pressure while you are virtually stepping, we aim to activate your surviving spinal nerve fibres and help the touch signals reach your brain in an effort to re-train the nervous system to identify the touch signals from toe to head as
sensation.

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Participation in this trial involves:

• Having an MRI to assess if you have evidence of signal in brain areas in response to touch below the injury level

• On the same day as you have the MRI, have a physical assessment to assess your motor and sensory function below your level of injury.

• Complete the RESTORE (VRWalk+Touch) treatment session once a day for 20 days

  • The treatment sessions will involve exploring and interacting with a virtual world using virtual reality goggles and handheld controllers, while simultaneously receiving pressure sensation through the sole of each foot via a foot massager device.

  • Each session must be completed once a day for 20 days

  • Each daily session is 20 minutes long.

• We provide the VR goggles, hand held controllers and foot massager device so the treatment sessions are done at home.

• The study also involves completing a set of questionnaires online at 3 timepoints.

**Because this is a home-based intervention, people anywhere in Australia can participate**
 
To register your interest in this upcoming trial, please complete and submit the form. The
research team will contact you as soon as possible.