Virtual Reality Immersion Method Of Distraction To Control Experimental Ischemic Pain

Background: Virtual reality immersion has been advocated as a new effective adjunct to drugs for pain control. The attenuation of pain perception and unpleasantness has been attributed to the patient's attention being diverted from the real, external environment through immersion in a virtual environment transmitted by an interactive 3-D software computer program via a VR helmet.Objectives: To investigate whether VIR immersion can extend the amount of time subjects can tolerate ischemic tourniquet pain.Methods: The study group comprised 20 healthy adult volunteers. The pain was induced by an inflated blood pressure cuff during two separate, counterbalanced, randomized experimental conditions for each subject: one with VR and the control without VR exposure. The VIR equipment consisted of a standard computer, a lightweight helmet and an interactive software game.Conclusions: The VR method in pain control was shown to be beneficial. The relatively inexpensive equipment will facilitate the use of VR immersion in clinical situations. Future research is necessary to establish the optimal selection of clinical patients appropriate for VIR pain therapy and the type of software required according to age, gender, personality, and cultural factors.