Virtual Reality Analgesia During Pediatric Physical Therapy

Virtual Reality Analgesia During Pediatric Physical Therapy

We would like to determine whether Virtual Reality (VR) analgesia continues to be effective for reducing pain when administered for a clinically relevant treatment duration over multiple, repeated exposures (i.e., up to ten sessions of physical therapy per patient).

This study is done in a hospital for inpatients pediatrics. By randomization some subjects will immersive Virtual Reality (VR) during a painful procedure on daily basis up to 10 days to see whether this will reduce the pain and anxiety.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age greater than or equal to 8 years up to 20 yrs old
• Compliant and able to complete subject evaluation
• A minimum of 3 days of physical therapy, one physical therapy session per day
• No history of psychiatric (DSM-IV-R Axis I) or developmental disorder that would interfere with decisional capacity
• Not demonstrating delirium, psychosis, or any form of Organic Brain Disorder that would interfere with decisional capacity
• Able to communicate verbally
• Able to take oral medications
• English-speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

• - Age less than 8 years, or greater than 20 years.
• Not capable of indicating pain intensity
• Not capable of filling out study measures
• Hospitalization of fewer than 3 days
• Evidence of traumatic brain injury
• History of psychiatric (DSM-IV-R Axis I) disorder as evidenced in the admitting RN and MD admission notes, if interfering with decisional capacity
• Demonstrating delirium, psychosis or any form of Organic Brain Disorder and associated memory problems that would interfere with decisional capacity
• Unable to communicate verbally
• Unable to take oral medications
• History of sig. cardiac, endocrine, neurologic, metabolic, respiratory, gastrointestinal or genitourinary impairment that would interfere with treatment or decisional capacity
• Receiving prophylaxis for alcohol or drug withdrawal
• Developmental disability that would interfere with decisional capacity
• Face/head/neck injuries preventing helmet use
• Non-English-speaking
• Extreme susceptibility to motion sickness
• Seizure history