Efficacy of Immersive Virtual Reality Combined With Multisensor Biofeedback on Chronic Pain in Fibromyalgia: A Pilot...

Area of Science:

• Pain Management
• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic condition causing widespread pain and fatigue.
• Current non-pharmacologic treatments for FM offer limited relief.
• There is a need for innovative therapeutic strategies to manage FM symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the preliminary efficacy and feasibility of a novel immersive virtual reality with multisensor biofeedback (IVR-BF) intervention for fibromyalgia.
• To evaluate IVR-BF's impact on pain reduction and quality of life in FM patients.

Main Methods:

• A pilot, open-label, randomized controlled trial was conducted with 20 adult female patients diagnosed with FM.
• Patients were randomized to an immediate treatment group receiving IVR-BF or a waitlist control group.
• Primary outcome was pain reduction measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS); secondary outcomes included FM Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) scores.

Main Results:

• The IVR-BF treatment group demonstrated significantly lower VAS pain scores compared to the waitlist control group (P = 0.011).
• Significant improvements were observed in FIQ scores (P = 0.018) and qualitative pain aspects (SF-MPQ).
• Longitudinal analysis showed progressive symptom improvement, supported by physiological changes, with high patient satisfaction and no safety concerns.

Conclusions:

• Immersive virtual reality with multisensor biofeedback (IVR-BF) is a feasible and promising intervention for managing fibromyalgia.
• IVR-BF shows potential in reducing pain and enhancing the quality of life for individuals with FM.
• Larger clinical trials are warranted to further validate the efficacy of IVR-BF in fibromyalgia management.