Home-based Rehabilitation Intervention for Phantom Limb Pain in Veterans With Lower Limb Amputations

Recruiting

Who can join

Ages 18 to 89 · All sexes

Full eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Must be a military Veteran
* At least 18 years old;
* \>1 year since unilateral below knee amputation;
* Moderate or severe (NRS score 4 on a 0-10 scale) PLP;
* Stable medications over the past 2 weeks;
* Willing and able to give informed consent; and
* Able to participate in the telehealth study activities with a personal device.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Unstable medical conditions (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes, heart failure exacerbation);
* Unstable mental illness or substance use disorder (e.g., active suicidality or psychosis); and
* Unable to give informed consent due to a cognitive impairment.
* Fibromyalgia or complex regional pain syndrome-like symptoms

About the study

Nearly 60-85% of Veterans with amputations experience pain at the location of the amputated limb called phantom limb pain (PLP). PLP is a major problem and can have a profound impact on Veteran's daily function and ability to fully participate in life. Although several rehabilitation interventions are promising, advances in novel rehabilitation interventions are limited. The objective of this project is to refine a mobile app for graded motor imagery in 12 Veterans with amputations and test the mobile app with 36 Veterans with amputations. For this pilot project, the investigators will measure the preliminary feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. Knowledge from this project will provide evidence to guide future larger studies of this graded motor imagery intervention. Developing novel strategies for chronic pain in this population will positively impact quality of life for Veterans with amputations.

What is being tested

Graded motor imagery mobile app (device)

Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development · Participants: 36 · Started: Apr 1, 2024

Contact the study team

Tonya L Rich, PhD MA BS · Phone: (612) 467-5463
Andrew H Hansen, PhD · Phone: (612) 467-2910

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06106984

Locations in the U.S.

Minnesota

Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, Minneapolis

Conditions

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.