Virtual reality as a method of providing analgesia to chronic low back pain patients

Problem: The persistent nature of chronic pain makes its effective treatment an ongoing challenge. Of the most widely available treatment modalities, pharmacologic management with opioid analgesia has faced recent criticism; its potential for substance abuse, side effects, and limitations on dosing and frequency indicates a role for new methods of pain management. While progress is being made in the invasive arena with the advent of improved technologies, therapies in the noninvasive arena have until recently been unable to take similar advantage. Methods: Peer-reviewed articles dating as far back as 1980 were found to investigate to the cognitive dimensions of chronic pain. Peer-reviewed articles published starting in 1990 were found to have built on this concept by investigating the roles of cognition and attentional modulation in pain relief. Finally, peer-reviewed articles beginning in 2000 were found to investigate the applications of interactive gaming technology in pain management. Results: A majority of recent studies reviewed examined how interactive gaming technology could increase attentional load, and thereby influence pain perception and induce pain relief, in the acute pain setting. Studies investigating similar applications to chronic pain, however, were limited in number. Moreover, the subject pools in the acute pain studies were often unreflective of the chronic pain population. Conclusion: Further research into applications of interactive gaming technology in pain management will likely significantly increase the number of therapeutic modalities available to chronic pain patients and provide a viable alternative, or at minimum an adjunct, to pharmacologic management.