Virtual reality trials report lower pain scores in chronic low back pain
An abstract-based synthesis suggests symptom benefits, while differences between studies leave uncertainty about how large or lasting they are.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The meta-analysis found lower pain, disability and fear-of-movement scores with virtual reality interventions than with conventional treatments for chronic low back pain. The direction of the findings was encouraging, but variation across studies and possible publication bias for a pain measure limit confidence in the size and reliability of the benefit.
Some outcomes varied substantially across studies, and the authors flagged possible publication bias for Visual Analog Scale pain scores. The abstract does not give follow-up durations or detailed adverse-event results.
What researchers found
Visual Analog Scale pain score
Lower with virtual reality than control treatments; the scale range and assessment timing were not reported.
Symptoms and other measures
The review assessed pain and disability alongside blood markers and a measure of back-muscle size. Changes in those additional measures are separate findings; they should not be treated as proof of better everyday function.
Comparing virtual reality formats
The abstract also describes subgroup results by frequency, duration and immersion. It does not provide enough detail to establish which format is best or turn those comparisons into a treatment schedule.
The original publication
Therapeutic effects of virtual reality technology on chronic low back pain.
Huang G, Chen W
Medicine (Baltimore) · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41204536
- Record checked
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