[Virtual cognitive-perceptual home training program for chronic pain of the upper extremities].

Background

Cognitive and perceptual treatment approaches represent an adjunctive nonpharmacological treatment option for people with chronic pain. One treatment approach is based on the graded motor imagery (GMI) theory, which integrates several cognitive-perceptual methods into a staged concept.

Aim

In this study, the technical and practical feasibility of a prototype for a virtual reality (VR)-based home training program incorporating key elements of GMI theory was evaluated for the first time under real-world conditions in patients with chronic unilateral pain of the upper extremities. MATERIAL AND

Methods

Patients with chronic pain used the application for 5 days per week for a maximum of 30 min over a period of 6 weeks. Technical and application-related aspects of the implementation, user acceptance and pain perception were assessed.

Results

A total of 13 pain patients could be included in the study, 7 patients completed the intervention and 6 discontinued prematurely, predominantly due to issues associated with the VR application. The daily training duration of 30 min was perceived as too long and the mirrored exercises were considered particularly strenuous. Pain perception changed only marginally over the course of the intervention. The technology proved to be highly error-prone.

Discussion

The implementation of cognitive-perceptual strategies in a VR environment as an innovative treatment approach for patients with chronic pain requires further technical and content-related optimization and will be the subject of a prospective pilot study.