Back pain plagues millions worldwide, including three in four adults in France, often sidelining them from work and daily life. A newly FDA-approved virtual reality therapy offers a promising, non-drug solution for chronic lower back pain.
The National Institute for Research and Safety (INRS) defines low back pain as symptoms including kidney turns, lumbago, or sciatica. In France alone, it causes about 2.3 million lost workdays annually.
On November 16, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) greenlit EaseVRx, a virtual reality-based therapy from AppliedVR, after successful year-long trials. This comprehensive program targets chronic lower back pain through immersive VR experiences.
EaseVRx uses a VR headset with a breath amplifier that captures and amplifies breathing sounds via the microphone, enhancing guided exercises. A study in the Journal of Medical Internet Research highlights its blend of biopsychosocial education, diaphragmatic breathing, relaxation techniques to engage the parasympathetic nervous system, and cognitive games for a holistic body-mind approach to pain management.
The 56-day protocol involves daily sessions of two to 16 minutes. In trials, 66% of 90 chronic low back pain patients reported over 30% pain reduction; even 41% in the control group saw similar improvements.
Now available by prescription for adults 18+ diagnosed with chronic low back pain, AppliedVR plans commercialization soon, with details forthcoming.
