In the study, published Aug. 14 in PLOS One, subjects with a pain score of at least three on a 10-point scale viewed relaxing and meditative VR experiences through the Samsung Gear Oculus headset. When compared to a control group of patients who viewed television programming promoting health and wellness, the VR users experienced a greater drop in pain levels, a difference that was sustained for the ensuing 72 hours.
Additionally, the difference was even more pronounced among patients with severe baseline pain: In those who reported a pain score of at least seven, the VR users’ average drop in pain was approximately three points higher than the control group’s.
“Virtual reality is a mind-body treatment that is based in real science,” said lead author Brennan Spiegel, MD, director of Cedars-Sinai’s Health Service Research. “It does more than just distract the mind from pain, but also helps to block pain signals from reaching the brain, offering a drug-free supplement to traditional pain management.”
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