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Author Spotlight: Methodologies and Advancements of Chronic Pain Management Research
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VR-guided exercise and mindfulness program for people with chronic pain: a randomised controlled cross-over pilot
Sella Aarrestad Provan1,2, Giovanna Calogiuri3,4, Linda Røset3
1Department of Public Health and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Elverum, Norway. sellaprovan@gmail.com.
BMC Sports Science, Medicine & Rehabilitation
|March 22, 2025
Summary
Virtual reality (VR) offers a promising tool for chronic pain management, delivering comparable exercise and mindfulness interventions to traditional screens with similar exertion levels and few adverse events.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Pain Management
- Virtual Reality Applications
Background:
- Chronic pain negatively impacts exercise adherence.
- Virtual reality (VR) may offer a novel approach to pain management during exercise by inhibiting pain signals.
- This study investigated a VR-guided intervention for improving physical fitness in individuals with chronic pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy and safety of a VR-guided intervention for chronic pain management.
- To compare exercise and mindfulness interventions delivered via VR versus traditional television (TV) screens.
- To evaluate physiological and self-reported outcomes during VR-guided exercise in chronic pain patients.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled pilot trial with a cross-over design was conducted.
- Participants performed aerobic and mindfulness exercises guided by VR or TV.
- Heart rate and self-reported outcomes (intensity, benefit, relaxation, reward) were monitored.
Main Results:
- Twenty-seven participants (mean age 40.4 years, 63% men) were included.
- No significant differences in heart rate, exercise intensity, or self-reported measures were found between VR and TV sessions.
- All physiological and perceived exercise outputs were comparable across VR and TV delivery modes.
Conclusions:
- VR-guided interventions are feasible for chronic pain management, demonstrating comparable exertion to TV-guided exercise.
- VR interventions for chronic pain show potential with minimal adverse events.
- VR-guided mindfulness exercises show promise in the rehabilitation of chronic pain patients.
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