Virtual Reality (VR) may be a potential non-invasive and cost-effective alternative solution for the management of chronic pain. Previous studies have shown VR as a tool for reducing pain. The study’s aim was to investigate the benefits of VR, both fundamentally and holistically, for pain and body-image. For this study, an experimental protocol was designed using the Advanced Thermal Stimulator (TSA) to induce and resemble chronic pain. The study took place at Maastricht University and included a total of 47 healthy participants ranging in age from 18 to 35 years old. VR equipment and hardware were designed and provided by CUREosity. This study was conducted using a mixed 2 x 2 designs with VR condition (Active vs. Passive) and Time (First and Third Measurement) as the factors. The active condition was an interactive cold-water environment and the passive condition is a non-interactive forest ecosystem. Both of these conditions undergo the same procedure and were measured using the Pain Numeric Scale (PNS) scale. We hypothesized that pain perception will decrease in both conditions; with a significantly greater effect in the active compared to the passive condition. Additionally, we observe the variable body image without any directional assumption. The hypothesis was tested using a two-way repeated measures ANOVA. This was conducted for each dependent variable (pain perception and body image) with Pain Catastrophizing Scores (PCS) as a covariate. Results indicated that there was a significant interaction between PNS scores and condition; while no observed significant interaction was present for body image. These results suggest that VR may be beneficial as a clinical tool for reducing pain. In conclusion, future research may focus on improving current limitations; while observing the long-term benefits and applications of VR on chronic pain.
