Back Pain & Motor Control

Study Name: Back Pain and Motor Control in Virtual Reality

Purpose of the study

The purpose of this study is to understand how movement influences pain and how pain influences movement, and to identify the brain circuits that allow this to happen.

Who is eligible?

People between 18 – 99 years old with low back pain that occurred at least half of the day in the last six months. No medical history of neurological disorder (stroke, TIA, Parkinson Disease etc.)

What will happen if I participate?

You will be asked to: (1) complete several questionnaires about pain, anxiety, disability etc., (2) place sensors on your head to measure your brain activity using electroencephalography (EEG), (3) place sensors on your muscles to measure muscle activity using electromyography (EMG), (4) wear a virtual reality headset and complete motor capability tests within the virtual world, (5) place sensors on your wrists, chest, and waist to measure movement of body during walking and balancing.

Contact Information

Please contact the team at 352-294-1684


Research Team

Principal Investigator: Stephen Coombes, Ph.D., UF College of Health and Human Performance
Study Coordinator: Rachel Judy