Applied Virtual Reality at TK
Virtual Reality is a 3D, typically interactive digital environment projected through a headset that fully blocks out other visual stimuli. Medical researchers have effectively used immersive virtual reality as an analgesic, pain management tool, anxiety reducer, and distraction intervention for patients undergoing painful and tedious medical treatments as well as trauma resulting in anxiety and pain.
Research supports that distraction- whether video games, books, or fun activities- makes medical treatment easier to handle and more enjoyable for the patient. However immersive VR also has the benefit of causing patients to underestimate the length of time spent during treatment, and may be more effective at reducing anxiety and the sensation of pain than other less, fully immersive, methods of distraction.
VR acts as a powerful non-pharmacological analgesic and affective pain reduction method during and after medical treatments for patients with acute pain. Patients reported less pain during treatment and therapies when immersed in a VR environment during and after therapeutic interventions.
Features and Advantages of VR Distraction Interventions
VR serves as an anxiety reducer, even in the long term when VR is not being used during treatment.
- Adult patients who have used a VR intervention during their first chemotherapy treatment reported significantly reduced anxiety during subsequent chemotherapy treatments even if VR was not being used during subsequent treatments.
- VR causes patients to underestimate the length of time in treatment
- Adult patients using VR intervention during Chemotherapy treatment underestimated the elapsed time of treatment by 28% on average.
- The efficacy of VR does not decline after repeated treatments;
- According to a burn wound range of motion studies the effectiveness of VR in pain reduction remains equally strong across multiple treatments.
Here at Totally Kids we are using Applied VR- which includes Apps for video games, music, guided imagery, and relaxation training with our patients for anxiety reduction, pain management, and range of motion training. Our Rehabilitation team along with our Doctors and nurses are working together on collaborating with the VR intervention during patient sessions as needed in these areas to maximize progress on our patient’s treatment goals. Before and after a session patients are asked to rate their anxiety and pain level. We are happy to share that by their own report our patients are able to reduce their anxiety and pain level as well as increase their range of motion with the VR intervention. Benefits of Applied VR are becoming even more apparent as our patients are initiating requests for it when they are anxious or experiencing pain in an effort to calm themselves, relax and have a fun experience. We are very pleased to have this as an addition to our program and an enjoyable option for our kiddos to help them reduce anxiety and manage their pain. Our parents like it too!
MaryKay Chesher RTC, Biofeedback Provider
I “.Virtual Reality in pediatric rehabilitation”: A review (Parsons et al. 2009)
II.” Virtual Reality:” A Distraction Intervention for Chemotherapy” (Schneider et al. 2007)
lll. For more information visit http://www. VRpain.com
lV.Ibid (Schneider et al. 2007)
- “Effectiveness of Virtual Reality- Based Pain Control with Multiple Treatments” (Hoffman et al. 2009)
Vl.” Interactive Influences the Magnitude of Virtual Reality Analgesia” (Wender et al. 2009)
