Virtual reality improves pain threshold and recall in healthy adults: A randomized, crossover study
Authors' conclusion
This study demonstrates that VR increased pain thresholds while modulating initial and recalled experiences with anxiety
Study context
- Population
- Healthy adults, Stanford School of Medicine Health System; Heat pain threshold (HPT) (thermode) or pressure pain threshold (PPT) (algometer) testing40 HPT, 40 PPT
- Participants
- 80 adults
- Comparison
- Virtual reality (VR) vs control condition during standardized pain threshold testing
- Primary endpoint
- Pain threshold (HPT and PPT)
Methodological detailsprospective
- Prospective
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Pain threshold
- VR increased pain thresholds for both HPT and PPT
- VR vs Control: P = 0.002
- VR vs Control: P = 0.044
Further findings
| Outcome | P value |
|---|---|
| Initial pain scoresVR vs Control · HPT | P = 0.432 |
| Initial pain scoresVR vs Control · PPT | P = 0.24 |
| Recalled pain · 24 hVR vs Control · HPT; no difference | P = 0.851 |
| Recalled pain · 24 hVR vs Control · PPT; difference | P = 0.003 |
| Initial anxiety scoresVR vs Control · HPT; reduced with VR | P = 0.006 |
| Initial anxiety scoresVR vs Control · PPT; reduced with VR | P = 0.014 |
| Recalled anxiety scores · 24 hVR vs Control · HPT; reduced with VR | P = 0.018 |
| Recalled anxiety scores · 24 hVR vs Control · PPT; reduced with VR | P = 0.002 |
Initial pain scores
- No difference with VR
Original publication
Virtual reality improves pain threshold and recall in healthy adults: A randomized, crossover study. J Clin Anesth. Published 21 March 2025. doi:10.
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