The Use of Virtual Reality in Pain Management and Rehabilitation

Abstract

Virtual reality (VR) has evolved from an emerging entertainment technology to an emerging therapeutic technology in medicine, particularly for pain management and rehabilitation. As a highly interactive, immersive environment, VR has been found to be quite effective in pain perception modulation, physical and cognitive rehabilitation, and patient engagement. This review article systematically addresses the application of VR in acute and chronic pain, and its expanding use in motor and neurorehabilitation. The neurophysiological mechanism of VR-induced analgesia is described, available clinical evidence is reviewed, and different therapeutic modalities are discussed. The paper also addresses barriers to implementation, ethics, and economic considerations of the use of VR in clinical practice. With continued technological advancement and growing evidence of its therapeutic utility, VR has the potential to become a part of the core of personalized, non-pharmacological, and patient-centered care paradigms. This article will educate researchers, clinicians, and health policymakers regarding the multidimensional utility of VR in modern pain and rehabilitation medicine.