Role of Virtual Reality in Pain Management

From a far-fetched dream to a technological actuality, the evolution of virtual reality has created ripples in the immersive technology industry. With numerous modifications to mold technologies in line with growing needs, virtual reality soon became an integral part of the medical and healthcare sector, bringing groundbreaking techniques and equipment to add value to daily functioning. Today, VR technologies are being leveraged in the healthcare industry as a pain-management mechanism.?

Not only is VR helping transform the workings of the healthcare industry, but it is also maneuvering through different ways in which medical care can be given and received. In fact, immersive technologies have now become a promising avenue for administering effective treatment in several medical cases. This blog will touch upon how VR can be implemented to design pain-countering experiences and help shape healthcare facilities' future.?

Pain management in healthcare: A new dimension

Medical researchers in recent times have shifted their microscope to identifying the right pain management techniques that can be leveraged while maintaining safety procedures. Studies conducted by surveying and experimenting have shown that virtual reality can act as a valuable tool in helping patients as well as healthcare providers. Several research studies included the on-demand use of VR goggles, allowing users to choose from a range of relaxing environments. This allowed scientists and medical researchers to gauge the effectiveness of virtual reality experiences in pain management.

Advances in virtual reality pain management solutions

The most significant advantage of incorporating VR apps and experiences in pain management techniques is the lowering of dependency on opioids to counter pain. While clinical trials are still underway, several use cases have come forward where immersive experiences were used to create a comfortable, nearly painless experience for patients.?

Doctors across the globe are now identifying the advantages of using VR to treat chronic and acute pain. In fact, as per a randomized trial conducted at Cedars-Sinai in the US, implementing virtual reality as a pain management technique for patients exhibited a three-point reduction in pain definition on a scale of 0 to 10. As per clinical researchers, discovering a non-invasive pain-countering method can contribute to moving away from opioid addiction.

Proven Reality in Pain Management

Proven Reality observed a constant drive from medical researchers and practitioners to use alternative pain management methods that allow them to reduce the use of prescribed painkiller drugs and opioids. Proven Reality has designed a VR app that constitutes an immersive pain management application to assist healthcare professionals and improve facilities across medical institutions, allowing patients (adult and pediatric) to experience painless or reduced pain procedures. Furthermore, real-life applications with pediatric patients during check-ups and administering injections or vaccinations helped them have a comfortable experience.

Plans in the near future include extensive research and real-life applications, including adult and pediatric patients to help them deal with acute and chronic pain. Proven Reality hopes to create an all-in-one VR app that will be instrumental in medical training, pain management, as well as in assisting other healthcare procedures.?

Watch this space for more updates on the advances in the world of immersive technologies.?