Virtual reality (VR) can reduce the types of pain typically experienced in nerve injury patients, and VR can strengthen the dysfunctional pain suppression system, according to a new study.
The study, published in the Journal of Pain, showed that VR can also reduce pain symptoms such as tingling and pain after touch, which are common in patients with nerve injuries.
“It’s great that we saw these results as they show more evidence that virtual reality can not only reduce pain perception in human models of chronic pain, but it also gives us insight into the mechanisms behind this effect” said researcher Sam Hughes, a lecturer in psychology at the University of Plymouth.
“The next step, of course, is to run the study on people with chronic pain to see if it works for them,” added Hughes.
According to the researchers, we all feel physical pain in different ways, but people with nerve injuries often have dysfunctional pain suppression systems, which makes them particularly prone to discomfort.
For the study, the team focused on conditioned pain modulation (CPM) – a pain relieving pathway in humans.
The team previously published work showing that viewing soothing 360-degree scenes of the Arctic in virtual reality can help alleviate symptoms of pain similar to those seen in sunburn.
The team also went a step further and measured the direct impact of VR on CPM.
CPM is not functional in patients with nerve injuries. If scientists know what can improve their effects, they can help stimulate the body’s natural pain inhibition process, the researchers said.
The results showed that 360-degree Arctic scenes in virtual reality had an impact on CPM efficiency, while the 2D versions of the same scenes (referred to as “mock VR”) decreased CPM efficiency.
“If it works, it could be really helpful to be a part of ongoing pain management by helping fight the brain dysfunctions that underlie chronic pain,” added Hughes.
(With contributions from agencies)
