Loughborough University
Browse
Nishigami et al 2018 pre-pub.pdf (1.36 MB)

Embodying the illusion of a strong, fit back in people with chronic low back pain. A pilot proof-of-concept study

Download (1.36 MB)
journal contribution
posted on 2018-09-06, 14:10 authored by Tomohiko Nishigami, Benedict M. Wand, Roger NewportRoger Newport, Natasha Ratcliffe, Kristy Themelis, David Moen, Cat Jones, G. Lorimer Moseley, Tasha R. Stanton
Objective: This proof-of-concept pilot study aimed to investigate if a visual illusion that altered the size and muscularity of the back could be embodied and alter perception of the back. Methods: The back visual illusions were created using the MIRAGE multisensory illusion system. Participants watched real-time footage of a modified version of their own back from behind. Participants undertook one experimental condition, in which the image portrayed a muscled, fit-looking back (Strong), and two control conditions (Reshaped and Normal) during a lifting task. Embodiment, back perception as well as pain intensity and beliefs about the back during lifting were assessed. Results: Two participants with low back pain were recruited for this study: one with altered body perception and negative back beliefs (Participant A) and one with normal perception and beliefs (Participant B). Participant A embodied the Strong condition and pain and fear were less and both perceived strength and confidence were more than for the Normal or the Reshaped condition. Participant B did not embody the Strong condition and reported similar levels of pain, fear strength and confidence across all three conditions. Discussion: An illusion that makes the back look strong successfully induced embodiment of a visually modified back during a lifting task in a low back pain patient with altered body perception. Both participants tolerated the illusion, there were no adverse effects, and we gained preliminary evidence that the approach may have therapeutic potential.

Funding

GLM is supported by a Principal Research Fellowship from the National Health and Medical Research Fellowship of Australia ID 1061279. TRS supported by a National Health & Medical Research Council Early Career Fellowship (ID1054041). KT was funded by the The Pain Relief Foundation. NR was funded by the Bial Foundation.

History

School

  • Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences

Published in

Musculoskeletal Science and Practice

Citation

NISHIGAMI, T. ... et al, 2018. Embodying the illusion of a strong, fit back in people with chronic low back pain. A pilot proof-of-concept study. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 39, pp.178-183.

Publisher

© Elsevier

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Publisher statement

This work is made available according to the conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) licence. Full details of this licence are available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Acceptance date

2018-07-12

Publication date

2018

Notes

This paper was accepted for publication in the journal Musculoskeletal Science and Practice and the definitive published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msksp.2018.07.002.

ISSN

2468-7812

Language

  • en

Usage metrics

    Loughborough Publications

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC