Virtual reality exercises in an interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme for persons with chronic neck pain: A feasibility study

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of a virtual reality exercise intervention within an interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme for persons with chronic neck pain. The effects of the intervention on symptom severity, variables related to chronic neck pain, and patients' experience of exercises were assessed. Methods: Nine women and 3 men participated in a 6-week virtual reality exercise intervention during an interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme. Symptom severity was rated before and after each session of virtual reality exercise, using questionnaires before and after the interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme, and questions about participants' experiences. Results: Neck pain symptoms increased temporarily during the exercises, but no lasting deterioration was found after the interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme. Depression, pain interference, pain control, sleep and kinesiophobia improved significantly after the programme. Participants experienced that the virtual reality exercises increased motivation to exercise and provided a focus other than pain. However, the equipment was heavy; and exercising was tiring and reminded them of their challenges. Conclusion: This study indicates that virtual reality exercises as part of an interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme are feasible and safe for patients with chronic neck pain. Pain symptoms may increase temporarily during the exercises. Virtual reality exercises may support participants by increasing motivation to exercise and providing helpful feedback. Further research into the added value of virtual reality exercises in an interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme for patients with chronic neck pain is warranted.

The Use of Virtual Reality in the Rehabilitation of Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain

“…Manual searching did not yield additional primary articles for inclusion. Five articles were included in this review [21][22][23][24][25] (Fig. 1).…”

“…The mean of Downs and Black assessment scores of all studies was 21.00 (range, [20][21][22]. Four studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and had an average score of 22, whereas the remaining non-RCT study had a score of 20.…”

“…The VR group had a significantly better score at the 3-month postintervention follow-up when compared with the control (P = 0.020). ( 2) HADS/MPI/EQ-5D/ISI: When compared with baseline, both Cetin et al 21 and Glavare et al 22 reported a statistically significant improvement in HADS depression scores but not HADS anxiety scores, Glavare et al 22 also reported improvement in MPI scores for painrelated interference (P = 0.019) and life control (P = 0.025) only. EQ-5D scores (P = 0.005) and ISI scores (P = 0.050) were also improved compared with the baseline.…”

“…( NDI is a 10-item questionnaire that includes pain, personal care, lifting, reading, headaches, concentration, work, driving, sleeping, and recreation. [21][22][23][24][25] ROM describes the maximal range in degrees of a joint in a specific direction of movement. VAS measures the intensity or frequency of pain that a patient feels, from none to an extreme amount of pain.…”

“…The risk of bias was low in 4 studies, 21,[23][24][25] with 1 study having an overall high risk of bias. 22 The 4 studies with a low risk of bias were included in the sensitivity analysis of reported results. The remaining study was not included in the analysis due to the high risk of bias and that results were reported as median and interquartile range instead of mean and SD.…”