A randomized, controlled trial of immersive virtual reality analgesia, during physical therapy for pediatric burns
Yuko S Schmitt, Hunter G Hoffman, David K Blough, David R Patterson, Mark P Jensen, Maryam Soltani, Gretchen J Carrougher, Dana Nakamura, Sam R Sharar, Yuko S Schmitt, Hunter G Hoffman, David K Blough, David R Patterson, Mark P Jensen, Maryam Soltani, Gretchen J Carrougher, Dana Nakamura, Sam R Sharar
Abstract
This randomized, controlled, within-subjects (crossover design) study examined the effects of immersive virtual reality as an adjunctive analgesic technique for hospitalized pediatric burn inpatients undergoing painful physical therapy. Fifty-four subjects (6-19 years old) performed range-of-motion exercises under a therapist's direction for 1-5 days. During each session, subjects spent equivalent time in both the virtual reality and the control conditions (treatment order randomized and counterbalanced). Graphic rating scale scores assessing the sensory, affective, and cognitive components of pain were obtained for each treatment condition. Secondary outcomes assessed subjects' perception of the virtual reality experience and maximum range-of-motion. Results showed that on study day one, subjects reported significant decreases (27-44%) in pain ratings during virtual reality. They also reported improved affect ("fun") during virtual reality. The analgesia and affect improvements were maintained with repeated virtual reality use over multiple therapy sessions. Maximum range-of-motion was not different between treatment conditions, but was significantly greater after the second treatment condition (regardless of treatment order). These results suggest that immersive virtual reality is an effective nonpharmacologic, adjunctive pain reduction technique in the pediatric burn population undergoing painful rehabilitation therapy. The magnitude of the analgesic effect is clinically meaningful and is maintained with repeated use.
Conflict of interest statement
Conflict of Interest Statement:
All authors deny any financial or personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence (bias) their work.
Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.
Figures
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Figure 3
Subjective pain and fun ratings…
Figure 3
Subjective pain and fun ratings (0 to 100 GRS assessment) during the control…
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- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Adolescent
- Analgesia / methods*
- Burns / complications
- Burns / rehabilitation*
- Child
- Cross-Over Studies
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Pain / psychology
- Pain Management*
- Pain Measurement
- Pediatrics / methods
- Physical Therapy Modalities*
- Range of Motion, Articular
- User-Computer Interface*
- Young Adult
- Full Text Sources
- Medical
![Figure 3](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/2980790/bin/nihms225007f3.jpg)
Source: PubMed