Effectiveness of Virtual Reality in Reducing Kinesiophobia. A Systematic Review

Abstract

This comprehensive review synthesizes evidence from 18 distinct research studies examining various virtual reality strategies for alleviating kinesiophobia in people with chronic pain or musculoskeletal issues. These methods included but were not limited to exposure therapy and cognitive-behavioral techniques. Our analysis highlights several positive outcomes using VR- driven interventions for treatment-seeking populations with movement/activity anxiety. While some VR interventions lasted just one session and others up to eight weeks, they all shared a remarkable success rate at reducing kinsesiophobia based on findings from this systematic review. As such, future research must be dedicated towards determining which types of VR interventions prove most effective given broad differences in duration among current studies. The rapid advancements of virtual reality (VR) technology have revolutionized several industries, including education and entertainment. However, beyond these domains, the medical field has also begun to include this innovative technology into their treatment interventions for various health concerns worldwide.