Effects of Immersive Virtual Reality in Fibromyalgia

Summary

Fibromyalgia is considered a disease of unknown etiology, which It affects between 2 to 5% of the population in developed countries, mostly women, diagnosed mainly between 40 and 50 years of age, and whose main characteristic is generalized presence of musculoskeletal pain. Although the most described symptoms are multiple sensitive areas in trigger points, fatigue and cognitive dysfunction, this syndrome is associated commonly to anxiety disorders, depression and catastrophizing. In Chile, consultations specific cases of rheumatology due to Fibromyalgia reach 26.7%, with a similar reality in the commune of Concepción, as a result of which the need arises to implement a strategy different and innovative, in which an environment can be generated in which the user practices motor and cognitive strategies in different contexts, whether work or home, to through virtual reality, which has proven to be a promising tool in this group of the population, since by entering a controlled virtual environment, different techniques, taking them out of the conventional treatment box. In this way, it may include relaxation exercises, cognitive behavioral therapy, and physical activities adapted. This interaction may improve cognitive function, reduce anxiety symptoms, reduce painful perception associated with your health condition and improve your quality of life. Although there is knowledge and favorable experiences in its use, there is little information about the effects and the scope that it can have in patients with fibromyalgia. For this reason, it is proposed to carry out an investigation applying a Kinesiological treatment complemented with virtual reality. in patients with this disease. Therefore, the research question arises: What is the effectiveness of a kinesiological treatment, complemented with immersive virtual reality, on quality of life, cognitive and psychoemotional function in patients with fibromyalgia?

Conditions

• Fibromyalgia (FM)

Interventions

OTHER

Exercise with virtual reality

The virtual reality program consisted of twelve sessions (2 per week for six weeks) of 10 min warm-up plus 15 minutes of exercise with the FitXR game (developed by FITAR LIMITED) on the Oculus Quest 2™ device. The warm-up consisted of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer. The BORG CR-10 perceived exertion scale was used to determine this intensity. Subsequently, they continued with the FitXR game, starting with a 5-minute phase of muscular activation and global movements of their limbs. They performed eye-hand coordination exercises, hitting balls that came to the person at different speeds, and ended with muscle stretching and slow breathing. These exercises presented different difficulty levels and were adjusted to the person's condition. In the same way, as the game developed, it was possible to increase the level and thus increase its complexity.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidad San Sebastián

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• GONZALO J ARIAS-ALVAREZ · Universidad San Sebastián

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-09-02

Primary Completion

2024-12-31

Completion

2025-02-28

Countries

• Chile

Study Locations