TY - JOUR
T1 - The Effect of Virtual Reality on Cold Pain Sensitivity in Patients with Fibromyalgia and Pain-Free Individuals
T2 - A Randomized Crossover Study
AU - Christensen, Steffan Wittrup McPhee
AU - Almsborg M, Heidi
AU - Vain M, Thomas Søgaard
AU - Vaegter, Henrik Bjarke
PY - 2023/8
Y1 - 2023/8
N2 - Introduction: Fibromyalgia is a complex pain syndrome with high personal and societal costs, with only few effective tools for treatment. Virtual reality (VR) may be an efficient pain management tool although the effectiveness in fibromyalgia patients is unclear. Objective: This randomized crossover study set out to 1) investigate the effect of VR on cold pain threshold, -tolerance, and -intensity in fibromyalgia patients and in pain-free individuals and 2) explore the potential relationships between the effect of VR and pain catastrophizing. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two female fibromyalgia patients and 22 sex- and age-matched pain-free individuals participated in two conditions (one with VR and one without VR) with foot immersion in 1°C-2°C cold water. The order of conditions was randomized and counterbalanced for each group. Conditions were separated by 20 minutes. Cold pain threshold, -tolerance, and -intensity were assessed during the conditions. Pain catastrophizing was assessed using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale. Results: VR induced moderate to large increases in cold pain threshold and pain tolerance compared with the control condition for both the fibromyalgia group and pain-free individuals (P < 0.03). Pain intensity was reduced after VR only in pain-free individuals (P < 0.003). Pain catastrophizing was not related to VR effect on pain threshold, -tolerance, or -intensity for any group. Conclusion: VR had a significant effect on pain threshold and tolerance in fibromyalgia patients and pain-free individuals, which supports its ability to distract from pain. Future studies exploring the VR's potential as part of clinical pain management alone or in combination with other treatments are warranted. ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04294914).
AB - Introduction: Fibromyalgia is a complex pain syndrome with high personal and societal costs, with only few effective tools for treatment. Virtual reality (VR) may be an efficient pain management tool although the effectiveness in fibromyalgia patients is unclear. Objective: This randomized crossover study set out to 1) investigate the effect of VR on cold pain threshold, -tolerance, and -intensity in fibromyalgia patients and in pain-free individuals and 2) explore the potential relationships between the effect of VR and pain catastrophizing. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two female fibromyalgia patients and 22 sex- and age-matched pain-free individuals participated in two conditions (one with VR and one without VR) with foot immersion in 1°C-2°C cold water. The order of conditions was randomized and counterbalanced for each group. Conditions were separated by 20 minutes. Cold pain threshold, -tolerance, and -intensity were assessed during the conditions. Pain catastrophizing was assessed using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale. Results: VR induced moderate to large increases in cold pain threshold and pain tolerance compared with the control condition for both the fibromyalgia group and pain-free individuals (P < 0.03). Pain intensity was reduced after VR only in pain-free individuals (P < 0.003). Pain catastrophizing was not related to VR effect on pain threshold, -tolerance, or -intensity for any group. Conclusion: VR had a significant effect on pain threshold and tolerance in fibromyalgia patients and pain-free individuals, which supports its ability to distract from pain. Future studies exploring the VR's potential as part of clinical pain management alone or in combination with other treatments are warranted. ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04294914).
KW - Cross-Over Studies
KW - Female
KW - Fibromyalgia/complications
KW - Humans
KW - Pain
KW - Pain Threshold
KW - Virtual Reality
U2 - 10.1089/g4h.2022.0138
DO - 10.1089/g4h.2022.0138
M3 - Article
C2 - 36454199
SN - 2161-783X
VL - 12
SP - 295
EP - 301
JO - Games for health journal
JF - Games for health journal
IS - 4
ER -