A recent study conducted by the psychologists of the Nottingham University has found that a simple computer-generated optical illusion could ease the pain of arthritis. The technique is called Mirage and it helps the arthritis patients in improving the mobility of their hands by reducing the pain they felt in fingers.

Dr. Catherine Preston said that the technology that tricks the brain to think that the fingers are stretched and shrunk.

The psychologists conducted an examination on 20 volunteers aged around 70 with osteoarthritis to test out the Mirage technology. All of the participants of the study were diagnosed with arthritic pain in their hands and fingers, and were asked to rate their pain during the illusion. They were asked to place their hands inside a box containing a camera, which then projected the image on a screen in front of them.

The results of the study revealed that majority of the participants less pain in their hands and fingers when the image appeared on the screen showed them as being stretched. Some of them felt relief in the hands and fingers when the image showed them shrinking.

Researchers believe that further tests of the technique could lead to the development of a new potential treatment to soothe the pain of arthritis patients.