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UniSA researcher and NHMRC Career Development Fellow, Dr Tasha Stanton says the research combined visual illusions and touch, with participants reporting up to a 40 per cent decrease in pain when presented with an illusion of the knee and lower leg elongated. "We also found that the pain reduction was optimal when the illusion was repeated numerous times -- that is, its analgesic effect was cumulative," Dr Stanton says. The small study -- 12 participants -- focused on people over 50 years with knee pain, and a clinical diagnosis of osteoarthritis. Dr Stanton says the research provides "proof of concept" support that visual illusions can play a powerful role in reducing pain. - www.sciencedaily.com