Virtual reality helps relieve back pain

Virtual reality (VR) interventions may be used in the treatment of back pain, with potential favourable effects on pain intensity and motion function outcomes, according to a study.

Researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, searching multiple online databases for studies that evaluated extended reality interventions. They identified 24 articles, which included 900 patients with back pain in total.

All interventions were based on VR and involved physical exercises (n=17, 71 percent), hippotherapy (n=4, 17 percent), motor imagery (n=1, 4 percent), distraction (n=1, 4 percent), and cognitive-behaviour therapy (n=1, 4 percent).

The meta-analysis included 16 controlled studies. Pooled data revealed that compared with control interventions, VR produced a marked improvement in back pain intensity (mean difference, –0.67, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], –1.12 to –0.23; I², 85 percent).

Nearly every one of the included studies presented high risk of bias, underscoring the need to improve methodology in the examination of VR interventions. There was high heterogeneity across several methodological factors among the included studies.

Based on the findings, the researchers drew a tentative conclusion that VR could effectively improve back pain intensity, with a tendency to favourably impact other pain outcomes and motion function. This approach provides an interesting nonpharmacological option for the treatment of back pain to, in turn, minimize the need for opioid medications.