Clinical Study: VR Effectively Treats Pain Across Demographics

AppliedVR, a leader in immersive therapeutics, announced findings from a secondary analysis of a large randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating whether socio-demographic factors influence the clinical effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) therapy for chronic low back pain (cLBP). The study, published in the Journal of Medical Extended Reality, revealed that AppliedVR’s FDA-authorized RelieVRx device delivers clinically effective results across various demographics, including age, gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.

Consistent Engagement Across Demographics

Researchers aimed to determine if differences existed among key participant cohorts in terms of patient-reported clinical effectiveness, therapeutic program engagement, and patient-reported VR device usability ratings. The findings showed that therapeutic program engagement was generally consistent across socio-demographic categories, with older adults (65+) demonstrating greater engagement than younger participants. Usability ratings for RelieVRx were consistently high (A+), with only minor variations among different racial/ethnic groups.

Addressing Healthcare Inequities with RelieVRx

The established inequities in chronic pain care highlight the potential of immersive therapeutics like RelieVRx to overcome common barriers to care. By offering a clinically validated intervention that patients can self-administer at home without the need for connectivity or complicated setups, healthcare providers can reduce dependence on pharmacological treatments and surgical procedures. This scalable solution addresses the diverse needs of patient populations effectively.

Supporting Research and Expanding Access

Previous research published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Digital Health also supports the efficacy of RelieVRx, demonstrating significant reductions in pain intensity and pain interference among adults with chronic lower back pain. Participants who completed the program experienced an average reduction of 2.0 points in pain intensity and 2.3 points in pain interference on a numerical rating scale from zero to ten. These findings are based on the largest randomized controlled trial (RCT) of its kind, involving over 1,000 participants from a demographically diverse sample.

Government Adoption and Industry Impact

Over the past year, RelieVRx has gained substantial traction and adoption. It received a unique code and final pricing determination from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Additionally, it was included in the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Federal Supply Schedule (FSS), the Defense Logistics Agency’s Electronic Catalogue for Medical Supply Chain (ECAT), and the Department of Defense’s Distribution and Pricing Agreement (DAPA), facilitating streamlined purchases by government customers. AppliedVR also secured an expanded contract from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, extending access to the RelieVRx program as a covered treatment for more veterans across the VA system.

Click here to read the original news story.