Effects of Virtual Reality Exercises on Chronic Low Back Pain: Quasi-Experimental Study.
M Waqar Afzal, Ashfaq Ahmad, Hafiz Muhammad Bilal Hanif and 2 others
PMID 37713252WHAT IT FOUND
Combining two virtual reality games with back-strengthening exercises reduced pain and disability more than using the games alone in patients with chronic low back pain.
The VR games were delivered via Xbox Kinect alongside standard heat and electrical stimulation.
Key findings
01The group receiving both VR games plus back-strengthening exercises showed significantly greater reductions in pain and disability compared to groups receiving VR games alone.
02Lumbar range of motion improved in all groups, but the combination group demonstrated superior gains in flexion, extension, and lateral flexion.
03All participants received moist heat therapy and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation after their VR or exercise sessions, meaning the VR component was not tested in isolation.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study was not randomized due to pandemic constraints, which introduces selection bias. All groups received concurrent moist heat therapy and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, so the specific contribution of the VR games cannot be separated from these standard treatments. The sample size was small (40 participants) and recruited via convenience sampling from a single center in Pakistan, limiting generalizability. The study did not include a control group receiving no treatment or only standard care without VR.
Declared interests
None declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the VR games alone caused the improvement. All participants received back-strengthening exercises or heat and electrical stimulation alongside the games, and the group with the best outcomes was the one combining VR with traditional exercises.