Virtual reality (VR) can reduce the types of pain commonly seen in patients with zero injuries, and that VR can enhance the dysfunctional pain prevention system, a new study suggests.
The study, published in The Journal of Pain, showed that VR can also reduce pain symptoms such as prickling and post-traumatic pain, which is often seen in patients with zero injuries.
“It is great that we have seen these results as it shows more evidence that meaningfulness can not only reduce the understanding of pain in human models of chronic pain but also give us an insight into the mechanisms is behind this influence, “said researcher Sam Hughes, Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Plymouth.
“The next step of course is to do the study with people who are experiencing chronic pain to see if it works for them,” Hughes said.
According to the researchers, we all experience physical pain in different ways, but people with zero injuries often have a dysfunctional pain suppression system, making them particularly prone to discomfort.
For the study, the team focused on positional pain modification (CPM) – a pain prevention pathway in humans.
The team published previous work showing that watching quiet 360-degree views of the Arctic can actually help reduce pain symptoms similar to those experienced during sunburn.
The team has also gone a step further and measured the direct effects of VR on CPM.A
CPM is uncommon in patients with zero injuries, so by knowing what can boost its activity, scientists can help stimulate the body’s natural pain suppression process, the researchers said. -research.
The results showed that 360-degree views of the Arctic actually affected the effectiveness of CPM, while the 2D versions of the same views (defined as ‘sham VR’) reducing the effectiveness of CPM.
“If it works, it can be very helpful in being involved in the management of chronic pain by helping to target the brain disorders that underlie chronic pain,” he said. Hughes.
