Effects of Immersive Virtual Reality in Fibromyalgia

Universidad San Sebastián

Status: Invitation-only

Conditions: Fibromyalgia (FM)

Treatments: Other: Exercise with virtual reality

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06658223

3

Details and patient eligibility

About

Fibromyalgia is considered a disease of unknown etiology, which It affects between 2 to 5% of the population in developed countries, mostly women, diagnosed mainly between 40 and 50 years of age, and whose main characteristic is generalized presence of musculoskeletal pain. Although the most described symptoms are multiple sensitive areas in trigger points, fatigue and cognitive dysfunction, this syndrome is associated commonly to anxiety disorders, depression and catastrophizing. In Chile, consultations specific cases of rheumatology due to Fibromyalgia reach 26.7%, with a similar reality in the commune of Concepción, as a result of which the need arises to implement a strategy different and innovative, in which an environment can be generated in which the user practices motor and cognitive strategies in different contexts, whether work or home, to through virtual reality, which has proven to be a promising tool in this group of the population, since by entering a controlled virtual environment, different techniques, taking them out of the conventional treatment box. In this way, it may include relaxation exercises, cognitive behavioral therapy, and physical activities adapted. This interaction may improve cognitive function, reduce anxiety symptoms, reduce painful perception associated with your health condition and improve your quality of life. Although there is knowledge and favorable experiences in its use, there is little information about the effects and the scope that it can have in patients with fibromyalgia. For this reason, it is proposed to carry out an investigation applying a Kinesiological treatment complemented with virtual reality. in patients with this disease. Therefore, the research question arises: What is the effectiveness of a kinesiological treatment, complemented with immersive virtual reality, on quality of life, cognitive and psychoemotional function in patients with fibromyalgia?

Full description

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), fibromyalgia is considered a disease of unknown etiology, which affects between 2 and 5% of the population of developed countries, mostly women, diagnosed mainly between the ages of 40 and 50. In Chile, the prevalence is in a range between 1 and 2%. This disease is characterized by persistent generalized musculoskeletal pain, emotional symptoms such as anxiety, depression and cognitive disorders that mainly affect concentration and memory and compromise their quality of life.

It is for this reason that the need arises to implement a different, innovative strategy, in which an environment can be generated in which the patient can put motor and cognitive strategies into practice in different contexts, whether work or home, through virtual reality.

Virtual reality has proven to be a promising tool in the treatment of fibromyalgia. When patients enter a controlled virtual environment, they can work on different techniques that avoid conventional treatment pigeonholing. Current evidence describes the effectiveness of virtual reality in chronic pain syndromes, rheumatoid arthritis and especially in central neurological injuries, incorporating relaxation exercises and adapted physical activities. This interaction can improve cognitive function and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression associated with their health condition. Although there is favorable knowledge and experiences in its use, there is little information about the effects and scope that it can have in patients with fibromyalgia, which is why it is proposed to carry out research applying a Kinesiological treatment complemented with virtual reality in patients with this disease. Therefore, the research question arises: What is the effectiveness of a kinesiological treatment, complemented with immersive virtual reality, on quality of life, cognitive and psychoemotional function in patients with fibromyalgia?

Enrollment: 30 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Males and females
• over 18 years of age
• with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia issued by a medical professional under the ACR criteria (2016)

Exclusion criteria

• Subjects were excluded from the study when they presented pregnancy or lactation
• oncologic pain
• uncontrolled metabolic disorder
• vertigo or similar condition or any cognitive impairment that hinders the understanding of the informed consent.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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30 participants in 1 patient group

Exercise with virtual reality

Experimental group

Description:

The virtual reality program consisted of twelve sessions (2 per week for six weeks) of 10 min warm-up plus 15 minutes of exercise with the FitXR game (developed by FITAR LIMITED) on the Oculus Quest 2™ device. The warm-up consisted of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer. The BORG CR-10 perceived exertion scale was used to determine this intensity. Subsequently, they continued with the FitXR game, starting with a 5-minute phase of muscular activation and global movements of their limbs. They performed eye-hand coordination exercises, hitting balls that came to the person at different speeds, and ended with muscle stretching and slow breathing. These exercises presented different difficulty levels and were adjusted to the person's condition. In the same way, as the game developed, it was possible to increase the level and thus increase its complexity.

Treatment:

Other: Exercise with virtual reality