Remapping Body Representation Using Virtual Reality in Chronic Neuropathic Pain: Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Pain Management

Background:

• Chronic neuropathic pain (CNP) is prevalent in neurological conditions like spinal cord injury (SCI), complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), and phantom limb pain (PLP).
• These conditions often involve distorted body representation (BR) and altered sensory processing.
• Virtual reality (VR) offers immersive experiences to modulate attention, recalibrate BR, and alleviate pain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review VR interventions for CNP in neurological conditions.
• To explore VR's influence on pain perception via body remapping.
• To identify research gaps and suggest future directions for VR in CNP management.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus (Jan 2014-Dec 2024).
• Included original studies on VR interventions for CNP in neurological conditions, assessing pain, BR, or functional recovery.
• A qualitative synthesis approach was used due to study heterogeneity; quality was assessed using Cochrane Risk of Bias tools.

Main Results:

• Ten studies (RCTs and uncontrolled designs) met criteria, focusing on SCI, CRPS, and PLP.
• Interventions included immersive VR, mirror visual feedback, and virtual body illusions.
• Most studies (70%) reported significant pain reduction, improved embodiment, and body ownership.

Conclusions:

• VR demonstrates strong potential as a non-invasive, tailored therapy for CNP in neurological conditions.
• VR can offer innovative strategies to reduce pain and enhance functional outcomes.
• Future research should prioritize standardized protocols and large-scale trials for clinical integration.