Virtual Reality in Pain Rehabilitation for Youth With Chronic Pain: Pilot Feasibility Study.
Anya Griffin, Luke Wilson, Amanda B Feinstein and 10 others
PMID 33226346WHAT IT FOUND
In 17 youth receiving intensive pain treatment, Fruity Feet was feasible and acceptable.
Among 8 with repeated daily reports, pain, fear, avoidance, and functional limitations decreased, while activity engagement and pain reactivity did not change.
Key findings
01Seventeen youth in an intensive pain rehabilitation program completed 63 VR sessions; one withdrew after a third session because of dizziness and photophobia, and no other adverse events were reported.
02For the 8 patients with repeated daily questionnaire data, pain, fear, avoidance, and functional limitations decreased across VR sessions, while activity engagement and pain reactivity did not change.
03Patient and clinician interviews reported themes of positive experience or enjoyment, distraction from pain, and increased function or mobility.
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
Only 17 youth took part, and the study did not include a controlled comparison for pain or function outcomes. All patients were also receiving intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment, so changes across sessions may reflect the overall program rather than VR alone. Repeated daily questionnaire results came from only 8 patients, and activity engagement and pain reactivity did not change. The number of VR sessions varied because of technician availability and length of admission. One patient withdrew because of dizziness and photophobia. Clinicians reported difficulty generalizing progress outside VR, such as standing longer in VR than in a later physical therapy session. Patients could not use VR at home, and Fruity Feet was not commercially available. The setup needed a dedicated room, technical support, disinfection procedures, and more time than typical physical therapy or occupational therapy sessions.
Declared interests
One author, LW, is the CEO and founder of Mighty Immersion, Inc., the design and development firm contracted to help create Fruity Feet and the VR in pain rehabilitation platform.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that Fruity Feet caused the decreases in pain, fear, avoidance, or function. The VR sessions were added to intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment, there was no controlled comparison, repeated daily data came from only 8 patients, and activity engagement and pain reactivity did not change.