TY - JOUR
T1 - The short-term effects of head-mounted virtual-reality on neuropathic pain intensity in people with spinal cord injury pain
T2 - a randomised cross-over pilot study
AU - Austin, Philip D.
AU - Craig, Ashley
AU - Middleton, James W.
AU - Tran, Yvonne
AU - Costa, Daniel S. J.
AU - Wrigley, Paul J.
AU - Siddall, Philip J.
PY - 2021/7
Y1 - 2021/7
N2 - Study design: Within-subject, randomised cross-over trial. Objectives: To determine whether a commercially available 3D head-mounted (HMD) virtual reality (VR) device results in significant reductions in neuropathic pain compared to using a 2D screen device in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Setting: Greenwich Hospital, Sydney, Australia. Methods: Sixteen men with established SCI and chronic neuropathic pain participated in a single-session randomised cross-over trial. We compared the effects of 3D HMD VR and a 2D screen application on SCI neuropathic pain intensity and levels of perceived presence. Results: Participants reported significantly lower pain intensity after 3D HMD VR compared to 2D screen application (1.9 ± SD 1.8 versus 3.4 ± SD 1.6, mean 95% CI: 1.5, P < 0.0001). Participants reported significantly higher perceived levels of presence with the 3D HMD VR compared to 2D screen of (49.6 ± SD 8.9 versus 32.8 ± SD 11.1, mean 95% CI: 16.6, P < 0.0001). Increased perceived presence was associated with significantly lower pain intensity regardless of randomised sequencing of the two conditions (mean 95% CI: 0.06, P = 0.005). Effect size for pain reduction using 3D HMD VR was 0.80. Conclusions: We suggest that 3D HMD VR may provide neuropathic pain relief for people with SCI. Given the lack of cybersickness and ease of access, we propose that immersive VR could be a helpful adjunct to current pharmacotherapy. Further research is required to show that VR can be effective for more long-term reductions in SCI pain.
AB - Study design: Within-subject, randomised cross-over trial. Objectives: To determine whether a commercially available 3D head-mounted (HMD) virtual reality (VR) device results in significant reductions in neuropathic pain compared to using a 2D screen device in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Setting: Greenwich Hospital, Sydney, Australia. Methods: Sixteen men with established SCI and chronic neuropathic pain participated in a single-session randomised cross-over trial. We compared the effects of 3D HMD VR and a 2D screen application on SCI neuropathic pain intensity and levels of perceived presence. Results: Participants reported significantly lower pain intensity after 3D HMD VR compared to 2D screen application (1.9 ± SD 1.8 versus 3.4 ± SD 1.6, mean 95% CI: 1.5, P < 0.0001). Participants reported significantly higher perceived levels of presence with the 3D HMD VR compared to 2D screen of (49.6 ± SD 8.9 versus 32.8 ± SD 11.1, mean 95% CI: 16.6, P < 0.0001). Increased perceived presence was associated with significantly lower pain intensity regardless of randomised sequencing of the two conditions (mean 95% CI: 0.06, P = 0.005). Effect size for pain reduction using 3D HMD VR was 0.80. Conclusions: We suggest that 3D HMD VR may provide neuropathic pain relief for people with SCI. Given the lack of cybersickness and ease of access, we propose that immersive VR could be a helpful adjunct to current pharmacotherapy. Further research is required to show that VR can be effective for more long-term reductions in SCI pain.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85092691066&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/s41393-020-00569-2
DO - 10.1038/s41393-020-00569-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 33077900
AN - SCOPUS:85092691066
VL - 59
SP - 738
EP - 746
JO - Spinal Cord
JF - Spinal Cord
SN - 1362-4393
IS - 7
ER -