Extended Reality-Assisted Therapy for Chronic Pain Management

This is a two-arm randomized parallel controlled trial designed to test a prototype of a VR software application that the investigators have developed for patients with chronic low back pain. The app contains (1) educational messages delivered by a virtual therapist, (2) gamified exercises in which the patient has to move to reach goals or avoid objects, (3) therapeutic exercises, in which patients perform difficult or feared movements, (4) relaxation/mindfulness. There will be two groups consisting of adult patients of both sexes with persistent low back pain. Patients (n = 100) will be randomly assigned to either an interventional VR treatment (n = 50) or a control treatment (n = 50). Patients in the VR intervention group will use the VR software application daily for a 20-minute training program. In the virtual reality application, they will be embodied into an avatar through congruent visuotactile and visuomotor stimulation (observed in first person) and will perform gamified movements and exercises for 15-20 minutes. These exercises will increase in difficulty for 3 weeks and will include educational and relaxation components. The control treatment will consist of a passive VR intervention in which the patient watches a TV show on a 2D screen but while wearing the virtual reality headset. They will be able to choose from three popular TV series with short episodes (20 minutes). The investigators will use validated outcome measures to assess changes in pain and function. These will be measured at baseline, after treatment (3 weeks), and at 1 month follow-up for both the treatment group and the control group. Both groups will be advised to continue their normal daily activities and routines, with no restrictions on activity or exercise, in addition to VR treatment.