At the same time as we’re seeing a major uptick in interest in VR pain relief from from doctors and clinics, we’re also seeing a burst of media coverage of Firsthand’s pain relief solutions. The clear driver on everybody’s mind is VR’s clear potential reduce the need and abuse of drugs to treat pain, anxiety, and stress.
Virtual Reality has potential to treat chronic pain
“The United States is facing a drug dependency epidemic. In 2016 there were more than 64,000 overdose deaths – a rise of over 22% on the previous year.”
The WEF cited a study, The Impact of Virtual Reality on Chronic Pain (2016, Jones, Moore, & Choo) which tested Firsthand’s COOL! pain relief application with neuropathic pain patients. The study found: “Participants rated their level of pain before, during and after the session. And overall, the researchers found that it was reported as a third less (33%) at the end. During the session, the pain had lessened by two-thirds (66%). That’s more than the effect of morphine, which reduces pain by an estimated 30%. ” Jones et al concluded that virtual reality showed promise as a non-opioid treatment for chronic pain.
Healthcare Virtual Reality Companies to Watch
Thank you HatchMed for choosing us as a Top VR Company to Watch, and also featuring Firsthand in the top slot in your Who’s Who in Medical Virtual Reality. “Their affordable and practical VR hardware kits and software, Cool! and Glow! have been proven to reduce pain and anxiety.”
