Effects of different virtual reality environments on experimental pain threshold in individuals with pain following stroke
Maureen J. Simmonds · 2008
The objectives of this study were to determine whether different virtual reality environments (VR) had a differential effect on pain threshold (PT) in stroke patients with pain, and whether the patient’s level of interest in the VR influenced PT. Ten stroke individuals with pain participated. PT to hot and cold stimuli was determined using Quantitative sensory testing within four different VEs; Hot, Cold, Neutral and no VR. After the VR exposure, subjects rated each VR condition based on their engagement. The results suggest that VR is more effective than no VR and all VR conditions were more engaging than no VR.