Living with chronic spinal pain can be exhausting, often making people afraid to move or exercise for fear of making the pain worse. A review of data from 659 adults looked at whether virtual reality (VR) could offer a better way to manage these symptoms compared to traditional exercise programs.
The study found that VR led to statistically significant improvements in pain scores and kinesiophobia, which is the medical term for the fear of movement. While the VR group saw better results than those doing only exercise, the researchers noted that these improvements were small. Specifically, the improvements did not reach the threshold of being large enough for a patient to notice a meaningful change in their daily life.
It is important to note that the evidence for these findings is currently very low in certainty. The researchers found a high risk of bias in the original studies and a lot of variation in the data. While the results are promising, they are not yet strong enough to replace standard care, but they suggest VR could be a helpful tool to explore.
Common questions
Does virtual reality actually reduce pain?
The study found that virtual reality was statistically superior to exercise-based interventions for reducing pain. However, the researchers noted that these improvements did not meet the threshold for a change that a patient would notice in their daily life. Because the evidence is of very low certainty, talk to your doctor about how this might fit your specific needs.
Can virtual reality help with the fear of moving?
Yes, the study showed that virtual reality was significantly better than exercise alone at reducing kinesiophobia, which is the fear of movement. While the results were statistically significant, the overall certainty of the evidence is very low, and the study did not find a significant difference in functional disability.
Is virtual reality a proven replacement for exercise?
The study does not suggest it is a replacement. While virtual reality showed some advantages in pain and fear of movement, the evidence is currently weak and the results were not large enough to be considered a major clinical change. You should consult a healthcare professional before changing your current treatment plan.
