Aug 14, 2023

New VR ‘Superhero Therapy’ crushes chronic pain

Shutterstock_2182682745
In Australia, one in five people struggle with chronic pain. [Source: Shutterstock]

We’ve all heard of the Incredible Hulk, the green-skinned, muscular superhero with limitless strength. So, imagine what you could do if you could assume his persona and power?

Using Virtual Reality (VR), researchers at the University of South Australia are examining just this, exploring how superhero-like avatars can help people manage chronic and persistent pain.

The new ‘Superhero Therapy’, engages patients in VR where they ‘swap’ their body with that of a superhero to convince the brain and nervous system that the body is invincible, healed and no longer in pain. In doing so, a person with chronic pain, who feels weak and vulnerable, can literally see and experience themselves as a super strong, muscular character.

While management strategies for chronic pain may help, there is no cure and further innovations are needed.

Lead Researcher and 2023 SA Young Tall Poppy of Science, Dr Daniel Harvie, said mixing brain science with VR could help solve persistent pain.

“The visual synchronisation of virtual and real bodies triggers an update of the users’ brain-held representations: from those aligned with injury (which are pain promoting) to those consistent with a resilient body (which are pain suppressing). Remarkably, people feel immediately stronger, agile, and more resilient.”

While the research is ongoing, initial results show that when people enter a world of digital reality, their mind is immediately taken off their symptoms and their pain tends to drop. And just like practising any skill, the more you do it, the better you become.

“Virtual reality is an amazing, brain-targeting, perception-altering tool that can be used to train the nervous system and address some of the challenges for people with chronic pain,” Dr Harvie said.

“I really think it won’t be too long before we see VR in physio and occupational therapy clinics as a core part of every management of people with pain.”

Have you used VR to treat medical conditions? How did it go? Let us know in the comments below!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Over 140 jobs created at Melbourne’s first hotel-like aged care facility

A new Victorian aged care facility is earmarked to create up to 140 jobs with 50 employees already working there. Read More

Workforce representatives ‘left out’ of aged care advisory council

Seventeen people have been hand-picked to provide advice to the Government as part of the new National Aged Care Advisory Council. Unsurprisingly, the people asking for better staff pay and mandated ratios have been left out. Read More

Mavis reflects on a century: International Women’s Day

When Mavis Kohler was born in 1923, women were not allowed to drink in public bars, stand for Federal elections, or work in public service jobs once they married. Read More
Advertisement