Maria Glavare, Britt-Marie Stålnacke, Charlotte K. Häger, Monika Löfgren
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Danderyd University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
DOI: 10.2340/20030711-1000067

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of a virtual reality exercise intervention within an interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme for persons with chronic neck pain. The effects of the intervention on symptom severity, variables related to chronic neck pain, and patients' experience of exercises were assessed.
Methods: Nine women and 3 men participated in a 6-week virtual reality exercise intervention during an interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme. Symptom severity was rated before and after each session of virtual reality exercise, using questionnaires before and after the interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme, and questions about participants' experiences.
Results: Neck pain symptoms increased temporarily during the exercises, but no lasting deterioration was found after the interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme. Depression, pain interference, pain control, sleep and kinesiophobia improved significantly after the programme. Participants experienced that the virtual reality exercises increased motivation to exercise and provided a focus other than pain. However, the equipment was heavy; and exercising was tiring and reminded them of their challenges.
Conclusion: This study indicates that virtual reality exercises as part of an interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme are feasible and safe for patients with chronic neck pain. Pain symptoms may increase temporarily during the exercises. Virtual reality exercises may support participants by increasing motivation to exercise and providing helpful feedback. Further research into the added value of virtual reality exercises in an interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme for patients with chronic neck pain is warranted.

Approximately 20% of the general population have such severe pain that it has a major impact on their daily life. Chronic neck pain is a common diagnosis. For treatment of chronic neck pain, current knowledge supports the use of interdisciplinary rehabilitation programmes; health professionals working in a team together with the patient. Such programmes include education, exercise and psychological intervention. It is possible that exercising with the use of virtual reality might stimulate physical activity and facilitate exercise performance through instant feedback. This study investigated the feasibility of using virtual reality exercises within an interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme for patients with chronic neck pain. The results show that it is possible and safe for patients with chronic neck pain to incorporate virtual reality exercises as part of an interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme. Neck pain symptoms may increase temporarily during the exercises, but no long-lasting deterioration in symptoms was found. No adverse effects occurred due to the interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme. Virtual reality exercises may support participants in increasing motivation and by providing helpful, direct, feedback of their performance during the exercise session.