Effects of Non-Immersive Virtual Reality Exercise on Self-Reported Pain and Mechanical Hyperalgesia in Older Adults with Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial
<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee and hip is a major cause of pain and functional impairment. This study evaluated the effects of non-immersive virtual reality (NIVR) combined with conventional physical therapy (CPT) on pain intensity, mechanical hyperalge...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Medicina |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/7/1122 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849246536183054336 |
|---|---|
| author | Francisco Guede-Rojas Cristhian Mendoza Leonardo Rodríguez-Lagos Adolfo Soto-Martínez David Ulloa-Díaz Carlos Jorquera-Aguilera Claudio Carvajal-Parodi |
| author_facet | Francisco Guede-Rojas Cristhian Mendoza Leonardo Rodríguez-Lagos Adolfo Soto-Martínez David Ulloa-Díaz Carlos Jorquera-Aguilera Claudio Carvajal-Parodi |
| author_sort | Francisco Guede-Rojas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Background and Objectives</i>: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee and hip is a major cause of pain and functional impairment. This study evaluated the effects of non-immersive virtual reality (NIVR) combined with conventional physical therapy (CPT) on pain intensity, mechanical hyperalgesia, and perceived recovery in older adults with OA. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: Sixty older adults with mild-to-moderate knee or hip OA were randomly assigned to a NIVR group (NIVR-G; <i>n</i> = 30) or a CPT group (CPT-G; <i>n</i> = 30). Both groups completed 30 sessions over 10 weeks (3 sessions/week). The NIVR-G performed 20 minutes of exergames integrated into CPT. Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and mechanical hyperalgesia was evaluated through pressure pain thresholds (PPTs). Secondary outcomes included the Global Rating of Change (GRoC) and the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for the VAS. This study is a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT05839262). <i>Results</i>: The NIVR-G demonstrated significant reductions in pain intensity after 30 sessions (<i>p</i> < 0.05, <i>d</i> = 1.50), with greater improvements compared to the CPT-G (<i>p</i> < 0.05, <i>d</i> = 1.17). The MCID for the VAS was established at 9.2 mm, with a higher proportion of responders in the NIVR-G (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The NIVR-G also reported superior recovery perception on the GRoC scale (<i>p</i> < 0.05). No significant changes in PPTs were observed in either group. However, the improvements in the NIVR-G diminished four weeks post-intervention. <i>Conclusions</i>: NIVR exergames combined with CPT significantly reduced pain intensity, improved perceived recovery, and resulted in a higher proportion of responders compared to CPT alone. These findings support the use of NIVR as an effective adjunct to CPT in older adults with OA; however, further research is needed to optimize its long-term benefits. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-106970c94dea435f916f4a2c1bc72802 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1010-660X 1648-9144 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Medicina |
| spelling | doaj-art-106970c94dea435f916f4a2c1bc728022025-08-20T03:58:27ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442025-06-01617112210.3390/medicina61071122Effects of Non-Immersive Virtual Reality Exercise on Self-Reported Pain and Mechanical Hyperalgesia in Older Adults with Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled TrialFrancisco Guede-Rojas0Cristhian Mendoza1Leonardo Rodríguez-Lagos2Adolfo Soto-Martínez3David Ulloa-Díaz4Carlos Jorquera-Aguilera5Claudio Carvajal-Parodi6Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago 7591538, ChileEscuela de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción 4030000, ChileCognitive Neuroscience, Pain and Rehabilitation Research Group (NECODOR), Faculty of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28922 Alcorcón, SpainDepartamento de Kinesiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, ChileDepartment of Sports Sciences and Physical Conditioning, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepción 4030000, ChileEscuela de Nutrición y Dietética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago 8580745, ChileEscuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Rehabilitación y Calidad de Vida, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción 4030000, Chile<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee and hip is a major cause of pain and functional impairment. This study evaluated the effects of non-immersive virtual reality (NIVR) combined with conventional physical therapy (CPT) on pain intensity, mechanical hyperalgesia, and perceived recovery in older adults with OA. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: Sixty older adults with mild-to-moderate knee or hip OA were randomly assigned to a NIVR group (NIVR-G; <i>n</i> = 30) or a CPT group (CPT-G; <i>n</i> = 30). Both groups completed 30 sessions over 10 weeks (3 sessions/week). The NIVR-G performed 20 minutes of exergames integrated into CPT. Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and mechanical hyperalgesia was evaluated through pressure pain thresholds (PPTs). Secondary outcomes included the Global Rating of Change (GRoC) and the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for the VAS. This study is a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT05839262). <i>Results</i>: The NIVR-G demonstrated significant reductions in pain intensity after 30 sessions (<i>p</i> < 0.05, <i>d</i> = 1.50), with greater improvements compared to the CPT-G (<i>p</i> < 0.05, <i>d</i> = 1.17). The MCID for the VAS was established at 9.2 mm, with a higher proportion of responders in the NIVR-G (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The NIVR-G also reported superior recovery perception on the GRoC scale (<i>p</i> < 0.05). No significant changes in PPTs were observed in either group. However, the improvements in the NIVR-G diminished four weeks post-intervention. <i>Conclusions</i>: NIVR exergames combined with CPT significantly reduced pain intensity, improved perceived recovery, and resulted in a higher proportion of responders compared to CPT alone. These findings support the use of NIVR as an effective adjunct to CPT in older adults with OA; however, further research is needed to optimize its long-term benefits.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/7/1122virtual realityosteoarthritisolder adultspainVisual Analog Scalepressure pain threshold |
| spellingShingle | Francisco Guede-Rojas Cristhian Mendoza Leonardo Rodríguez-Lagos Adolfo Soto-Martínez David Ulloa-Díaz Carlos Jorquera-Aguilera Claudio Carvajal-Parodi Effects of Non-Immersive Virtual Reality Exercise on Self-Reported Pain and Mechanical Hyperalgesia in Older Adults with Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial Medicina virtual reality osteoarthritis older adults pain Visual Analog Scale pressure pain threshold |
| title | Effects of Non-Immersive Virtual Reality Exercise on Self-Reported Pain and Mechanical Hyperalgesia in Older Adults with Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_full | Effects of Non-Immersive Virtual Reality Exercise on Self-Reported Pain and Mechanical Hyperalgesia in Older Adults with Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Non-Immersive Virtual Reality Exercise on Self-Reported Pain and Mechanical Hyperalgesia in Older Adults with Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Non-Immersive Virtual Reality Exercise on Self-Reported Pain and Mechanical Hyperalgesia in Older Adults with Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_short | Effects of Non-Immersive Virtual Reality Exercise on Self-Reported Pain and Mechanical Hyperalgesia in Older Adults with Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_sort | effects of non immersive virtual reality exercise on self reported pain and mechanical hyperalgesia in older adults with knee and hip osteoarthritis a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial |
| topic | virtual reality osteoarthritis older adults pain Visual Analog Scale pressure pain threshold |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/7/1122 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT franciscoguederojas effectsofnonimmersivevirtualrealityexerciseonselfreportedpainandmechanicalhyperalgesiainolderadultswithkneeandhiposteoarthritisasecondaryanalysisofarandomizedcontrolledtrial AT cristhianmendoza effectsofnonimmersivevirtualrealityexerciseonselfreportedpainandmechanicalhyperalgesiainolderadultswithkneeandhiposteoarthritisasecondaryanalysisofarandomizedcontrolledtrial AT leonardorodriguezlagos effectsofnonimmersivevirtualrealityexerciseonselfreportedpainandmechanicalhyperalgesiainolderadultswithkneeandhiposteoarthritisasecondaryanalysisofarandomizedcontrolledtrial AT adolfosotomartinez effectsofnonimmersivevirtualrealityexerciseonselfreportedpainandmechanicalhyperalgesiainolderadultswithkneeandhiposteoarthritisasecondaryanalysisofarandomizedcontrolledtrial AT davidulloadiaz effectsofnonimmersivevirtualrealityexerciseonselfreportedpainandmechanicalhyperalgesiainolderadultswithkneeandhiposteoarthritisasecondaryanalysisofarandomizedcontrolledtrial AT carlosjorqueraaguilera effectsofnonimmersivevirtualrealityexerciseonselfreportedpainandmechanicalhyperalgesiainolderadultswithkneeandhiposteoarthritisasecondaryanalysisofarandomizedcontrolledtrial AT claudiocarvajalparodi effectsofnonimmersivevirtualrealityexerciseonselfreportedpainandmechanicalhyperalgesiainolderadultswithkneeandhiposteoarthritisasecondaryanalysisofarandomizedcontrolledtrial |