This drug-free VR home based therapy just proved it can substantially reduce chronic neck and back pain as well as patient anxiety.
The Harvard MedTech Vx Pain Relief Program was provided to 145 people for 14 weeks, to be used independently of pharmaceuticals.
The results: (Amazing!)
– 33% pain reduction across all 14 weeks of the study, lasting a mean 2.8 hours after use. Duration of pain relief increased by the final vs. first month to 4.5 hours.
– 46% acute anxiety reduction across all 14 weeks, lasting a mean 2.7 hours post session.
Traditional drug based therapies DO NOT provide this level of relief and are often found to be no more effective than placebos, while introducing significant risk of addiction and other side effects.
Source
The backstory: (Inspiring)
Approximately 100 million people in the United States (US) are affected by chronic pain. The economic burden of chronic pain through both direct costs and lost productivity has been estimated to be as high as $600 billion dollars, greater than the costs of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Medication and invasive procedures have long been the standard of care. Due to the opioid epidemic and overall success rates, it has become clear that non-invasive, non-pharmacologic treatment options are desperately needed.
This study stands as one more proof point for how immersive medicine can greatly improve therapeutic options and patient outcomes while greatly reducing burden on overtaxed health care providers.
Way to go Harvard MedTech! A truly awesome accomplishment, I am excited to see what come next.
Source: https://www.nassopenaccess.org/article/S2666-5484(23)00089-6/fulltext
