Low Back Pain
Conditions
Keywords
Low back pain, Virtual reality, Pain science education
Brief summary
This is a single-case experimental design study enrolling individuals with chronic low back pain who will be receiving pain science education and virtual reality over 3 weeks.
Detailed description
The main objective of this study is to evaluate the potential of virtual reality in reducing pain intensity in individuals with primary chronic low back pain. Secondary objectives include analysing the impact of virtual reality on pain catastrophizing and fear of movement, as well as exploring participants' perspectives on the integration of virtual reality into the intervention plan. The study will be divided into three phases: baseline assessment, intervention, and post-intervention assessment. The baseline assessment phase will have a different duration for each participant. At baseline, participants will complete several paper-based questionnaires (sociodemographic and anthropometric data; pain location, intensity and characteristics; pain catastrophizing; fear of movement; pain during movement; and pain-related disability). After completing all questionnaires, participants will receive a paper diary to complete daily at home. This diary will record information such as pain intensity, fear of movement, and pain catastrophizing. Participants will return to the office only on the first day of the intervention phase, which will coincide with the first session. Sessions will be individual, will last between 30 and 45 minutes, and will take place with an interval of one to two days. The intervention phase will end on the 29th day of the study for all participants and consists of pain science education and virtual reality. On the final day of the study (i.e., the 35th day), participants will complete the same questionnaires administered at baseline, with the addition of the Global Perceived Effect scale. At that time, the diary provided at the beginning of the study will be collected.
Interventions
OTHERPain science education and virtual reality
The intervention period will take place between the 5th and the 29th day of the study (i.e., 3 weeks), noting that each participant will have a specific day to start the intervention. Three sessions will be conducted per week, with a total of 6 to 10 sessions per participant. The first 6 sessions will last 45 minutes, and the remaining 4 sessions will last 30 minutes. The sessions will combine Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) and Virtual Reality (VR) using the Meta Quest 3S.
Sponsors
Aveiro University
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Single case experimental design study
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Individuals with primary chronic low back pain aged ≥18 years, who present a moderate pain intensity (≥4 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale) and a mild level of fear of movement.
Exclusion criteria
* have a diagnosis of spondylolisthesis or lumbar spinal stenosis; * are experiencing an exacerbation of low back pain symptoms at the time of screening; * present with constant and widespread nonspecific pain; * are in an active phase of rheumatoid arthritis; * have a progressive neurological disease; * are currently pregnant or within 6 months postpartum; * have a diagnosed psychiatric disorder; * have a malignant disease; * have serious cardiac conditions; * have contraindications to physical exercise in general;
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pain intensity | Baseline (Day 1) | Measured using the numeric pain rating scale (end points: 0-10); 0 - minimum score, 10 - maximum score; higher scores mean higher pain intensity. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| pain mechanism | Baseline (day 1) | Assessed using the PainDetect questionnaire; range score: -1 (minimum) to 38 (maximum); scores are interpreted as a neuropathic component is unlikely (\<12), result is ambiguous (13-18) and neuropathic component is likely (\>19). |
| Pain intensity during movement | Baseline (day 1) | Measured using the numeric pain rating scale (end points: 0-10); 0 - minimum score, 10 - maximum score; higher scores mean higher pain intensity. |
| Perceived disability | Baseline (day 1) | Assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index; scores: 0 (minimum to 100 (maximum); higher scores mean higher disability |
| Catastrophizing | Baseline (day 1) | Assessed using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale; score range: 0 (minimum to 52 (maximum); higher scores mean higher catastrophizing. |
| Fear of movement | Baseline (day 1) | Assessed using the Tampa Scale of kinesiophobia; score range: 13 (minimum to 52 (maximum); higher scores mean higher fear of movement. |
| Knowledge on pain neurophysiology | Baseline (day 1) | Assessed using the Neurophysiology of Pain questionnaire; score range: 0 (minimum and 19 (maximum) and higher scores mean better pain knowledge. |
| Global perception of change | End of the intervention (day 35) | Assessed using the Global Rating of Change Scale, which has 7 itens (1 = no changes; 2 = almost the same; 3 = slightly better; 4 = with some improvements; 5 = moderately better; 6 = better; and 7 = much better)and higher scores mean higher perceived improvement |
Countries
Portugal
Contacts
CONTACTAnabela Silva, PhD
CONTACTEmanuel Leite, BSc
STUDY_CHAIRAnabela Silva, PhD
University of Aveiro
Outcome results
None listed