Alsobayel H1, Al-khalifa H1, Alazbah A1
1King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Background: Low Back Pain (LBP) is one of the most common problems among adults. The usual physiotherapy treatment is to perform physical exercises. However, most of LBP patients do not adhere to their home exercises which might increase their pain and disability. Some may have false beliefs regarding their pain and they tend to avoid physical movements.
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the feasibility and applicability of a LBP Exercise Game with an immersive experience to engage the patients in a virtual environment and distract them from the pain while performing LBP exercises.
Methods: Extensive literature review was conducted to explore the needs of people with LBP and the available Virtual Reality games. Focus group with physical therapists who are dealing with people with LBP was conducted to explore patients needs, obstacles to exercises, therapists perspective about the feasibility and applicability of the game. A fully immersive virtual reality was designed and piloted with 4 healthy people and 9 people with LBP. Ethical approval was obtained from King Khalid University Hospital IRB
Results: All participants completed the tasks indicated in the game which included moving an avatar through obstacles. The avatar movement was controlled by the participant through trunk movement (flexion, extension, lateral bending and rotation). All participants agreed that the game was easy, fun, and would recommend it to others.
Conclusion(s): A fully immersive virtual reality game for people with LBP showed great potential in improving patient adherence to exercises, breaking the fear cycle, and distraction from pain.
Implications: The proposed game would be an adjunct to physical therapy management for people with LBP to improve the adherence to home exercises, break the fear cycle, and distract them from pain.
Keywords: Low Back Pain, Exercises, Virtual Reality
Funding acknowledgements: Not applicable.
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the feasibility and applicability of a LBP Exercise Game with an immersive experience to engage the patients in a virtual environment and distract them from the pain while performing LBP exercises.
Methods: Extensive literature review was conducted to explore the needs of people with LBP and the available Virtual Reality games. Focus group with physical therapists who are dealing with people with LBP was conducted to explore patients needs, obstacles to exercises, therapists perspective about the feasibility and applicability of the game. A fully immersive virtual reality was designed and piloted with 4 healthy people and 9 people with LBP. Ethical approval was obtained from King Khalid University Hospital IRB
Results: All participants completed the tasks indicated in the game which included moving an avatar through obstacles. The avatar movement was controlled by the participant through trunk movement (flexion, extension, lateral bending and rotation). All participants agreed that the game was easy, fun, and would recommend it to others.
Conclusion(s): A fully immersive virtual reality game for people with LBP showed great potential in improving patient adherence to exercises, breaking the fear cycle, and distraction from pain.
Implications: The proposed game would be an adjunct to physical therapy management for people with LBP to improve the adherence to home exercises, break the fear cycle, and distract them from pain.
Keywords: Low Back Pain, Exercises, Virtual Reality
Funding acknowledgements: Not applicable.
Topic: Musculoskeletal: spine; Disability & rehabilitation
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: King Saud University
Ethics committee: King Khalid University Hospital IRB
Ethics number: -
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
