Virtual Reality Gears, Games: More Effective, Cheaper Pain Treatment Than Drugs

Virtual reality can reduce pain as much as narcotics do. This finding has led to the theory that the future of virtual reality games can have potential use in the medical field, specifically pain relief.

Virtual reality tests are being conducted under controlled trials in Cedars Sinai, where a number patients get virtual reality headsets during their stay in the hospital facility. Brennan Spiegel, director of health services research at Cedars Sinai, accounted that researchers were able to find out that 20 minutes of playing with the virtual reality device reduced patient's pain by 24 percent. Before patients used the virtual reality device, the mean pain score of patients were 5.5, 10 being the highest.

However, after using the virtual reality device and game, it decreased to a score of 4. Spiegel also said that the dramatic decrease in acute pain is similar to what they have observed when giving patients narcotics, James Welch reported.

The virtual reality study on pain is hopeful of the study that it can be an alternative to opioids, according to Matthew Stoudt, CEO of Applied VR. The company is building a library of virtual reality games for treating anxiety and pain for patients who are undergoing medical procedures. Applied VR is also currently collaborating with hospitals and physicians to get patients to use the Samsung Gear VR headset within hospital premises.

The virtuality games are not just applied for people undergoing medical procedures, but applicable for those who have anxiety and other physical pain related concerns.  The games have been created in three different pain applications, which are used for decreasing anxiety and third party applications as well. The headsets are being used in most medical settings, RT reported.

Virtual reality headsets like Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Rift and HTC's Vive are currently on the market, but it is easier for hospitals to consider using them for patients, with startup companies like Applied VR as a big business opportunity. Hunter Hoffman, director of VR research center at the University of Washington and developer of pain control game Snow World, said that the equipment needed for the games to work are extremely pricey. However, he added, Hoffman also said that the price for the intensive care pain relief study is way more expensive, usually amounting to $35,000.

Virtual reality games and gear are being used by Applied VR with Cedars Sinai Medical Center, who also invested in the company, and with Los Angeles Children's Hospital, which are currently conducting studies on its software.