Peripersonal space changes with upper limb segmental exclusion
Official title: Study of the Representation of Action Peripersonal Space in Participants With Unilateral Segmental Exclusion of the Upper Limb Compared to Asymptomatic Subjects
Run by Union de Gestion des Etablissements des Caisses d'Assurance Maladie - Nord Est · NCT07349173 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study will test whether people with unilateral segmental exclusion of the upper limb perceive their reachable space differently than healthy people using a virtual-reality reachability test.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Union de Gestion des Etablissements des Caisses d'Assurance Maladie - Nord Est Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Nancy) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | December 4, 2025 |
| Main results expected | July 2027 |
| Study ends | January 2028 |
| Registry record updated | March 16, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07349173 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (≥18) with unilateral upper-limb segmental exclusion lasting more than three months, able to stand for 40 minutes and use a VR headset, without central neurological disease, are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with central neurological disorders, significant visual impairments, unstable psychiatric illness, epilepsy, pregnancy, or other unrelated upper-limb pathology are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit from this protocol.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This monocentric observational study compares adults with unilateral upper-limb segmental exclusion to matched healthy controls. Participants complete clinical questionnaires on pain, anxiety, body perception and kinesiophobia, then perform a roughly 40-minute virtual reality reachability judgment task where they indicate whether virtual objects are reachable without moving. Perceived reachable distance in VR (DMA-p) will be compared to each participant's real reachable distance (DMA-r) to quantify judgment error as a measure of peripersonal space representation. The study will explore correlations between reachability judgment errors and measures of body schema disturbance, pain, and functional impairment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help identify distorted body-space perception in affected patients and inform targeted rehabilitation approaches to restore limb use.
How similar studies have gone: Related research has shown altered peripersonal space in conditions such as CRPS and neglect and VR reachability tasks have detected such changes, but applying this method specifically to peripheral segmental exclusion is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria (patients): * Age ≥ 18 years. * Presenting unilateral exclusion symptom of the upper limb or part of the hand evolving for \> 3 months. * No contraindication to force work in daily activities. * For patients with finger exclusion: at least 2 perturbed items related to exclusion on tests 3 and 4 of the "Bilan 400 points". * Affiliated to a social security scheme. * Able to understand simple orders. Inclusion Criteria (Controls): * Age ≥ 18 years. * No history of upper limb impairment with sequelae. Exclusion Criteria (All): * Visual impairments. * Central neurological pathology. * Unstabilized psychiatric pathology. * Communication or comprehension difficulties. * Under legal protection or unable to consent. * Pregnant or breastfeeding women. * Cervical pathology contraindicating VR headset use. * Epilepsy. * Upper limb pathology unrelated to exclusion. * Inability to stand for 40 minutes.
Where it's running
-
Institut Régional de Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation (IRR), Centre Louis Pierquin.
Nancy, France Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Amélie Touillet, MD
- Email: amelie.touillet@ugecam.assurance-maladie.fr
- Phone: +33 3 83 52 98 80
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Non-invasive brain stimulation to see if it changes pain avoidance in CRPS
This study tests whether a gentle brain stimulation method called tACS can change how people with complex regional pain syndrome avoid activities that might worsen their pain.
-
tDCS for CRPS: see if a non‑invasive brain stimulation helps reduce pain
This trial tests whether transcranial direct current stimulation can lessen pain and improve mood and function for people with complex regional pain syndrome.
-
CRPS rehabilitation with graded imagery and desensitization tailored to you
This study tests a personalized rehab program for CRPS to see if it improves daily functioning and pain, with MRI to explore brain changes.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.