Transforming healthcare with Virtual Reality

Jan 30, 2024

Exploring avenues beyond traditional pain management is crucial for chronic pain sufferers and the future of the allied health industry.

Ongoing research is driving innovative, drug-free treatments, with the latest contributors to effective pain management being cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness practices, and Virtual Reality (VR).

For the past 12 months, APM WorkCare’s National Pain Strategy has worked with Reality Health, a VR application researched by Professor Lorimer Moseley, AO. This collaboration highlighted the potential of VR in pain management reduction.

Through the application of innovative techniques, VR provides a means for individuals to modulate their experience of pain by altering approaches to pain management.

The strategies used in VR for chronic pain reduction can include mindfulness (focusing on the present moment), meditation, guided imagery, or cognitive behavioural therapy (redirecting negative thoughts to positive ones). They’re all used to control stress and mood.

Exploring the applications of VR

VR can be used to help treat many things aside from pain, for example:

Anxiety, including social anxiety and public speaking anxiety
Depression
Phobias
PTSD
Exposure therapy
Eating disorders
Grief and loss
Substance use disorders
Disorders where compulsive behaviour or interpersonal dynamics are significantly impacted.

The approaches include deep relaxation, attention-shifting, interoceptive awareness–the ability to identify, access, understand and respond appropriately to the patterns of internal signals—and perspective-taking, distraction, immersive enjoyment, self-compassion, healthy movement, acceptance, visualisation, knowledge of pain and rehabilitation.

Understanding the approach

VR and its many stimuli simply distract the brain from receiving pain signals.

For example, If you accidentally hit your elbow, and it hurts, you rub the elbow, and it feels better. You’re tricking the brain by producing the sensory reaction of touching the elbow, which cancels out some of the pain signals.

A documented study in America showed that Virtual Reality was used for lower back pain management. After it was tested on 179 people, 46% of the participants stated that it decreased their pain intensity by over half.

“Reliance on medication alone makes people feel passive in their pain management. By contrast, studies engaging with virtual reality have shown that it can decrease anxiety and distress, thereby helping to control pain levels”, says Prof Steven Faux, St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, Director Pain Medicine.

The significance of this technological leap is underlined by research showing that individuals with a comprehensive understanding of pain tend to experience less of it. These are invaluable insights for those grappling with high and chronic pain levels.

VR pain management interventions may facilitate better communication and collaboration between injured people, healthcare providers, and case managers, allowing for a comprehensive and coordinated approach to recovery.

Adopting Virtual Reality is a testament to understanding that a one-size-fits-all approach is insufficient in managing and aiding individuals in their journey toward optimal health, especially when dealing with chronic pain. VR as an option aligns seamlessly with the commitment towards innovative technologies that offer practitioners a valuable resource to enhance their efforts.