Effects of virtual reality-based neck-specific sensorimotor training in patients with chronic neck pain: A randomized controlled pilot trial.
Marina Nusser, Sebastian Knapp, Michael Kramer and 1 others
PMID 33369684WHAT IT FOUND
Patients adding VR neck training to standard rehab reported significantly less headache than those doing standard rehab alone.
They also gained more range of motion in bending the neck forward and backward. The helmet was heavy, but no other side effects occurred.
Key findings
01The VR group showed significantly greater reductions in headaches at rest and during motion compared to the control group.
02The VR group improved significantly more in neck flexion and extension range of motion compared to both the control and sensorimotor groups.
03All three groups, including standard care alone, achieved clinically relevant improvements in self-reported disability.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study was a pilot with a small sample size, limiting the certainty of between-group differences. Patients and therapists were not blinded to the treatment. The 6-month follow-up data were unusable due to a low response rate, so long-term effects are unknown. Four patients were excluded from the analysis due to organizational issues, leaving 51 analysed.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the VR training was solely responsible for all improvements, as it was delivered alongside a standard inpatient rehabilitation program. The benefits were primarily seen in headaches and specific range of motion, while disability improvements were similar across all groups.