Modifying lumbar flexion pain thresholds in patients with chronic low back pain through visual-proprioceptive manipulation with virtual reality: a cross-sectional study

Review written by Todd Hargrove info

Key Points

  1. Visual-proprioceptive manipulation using virtual reality can modify movement-evoked pain thresholds in chronic low back pain patients.
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Low back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide. It is common for individuals with non-specific low back pain to exhibit a protective response known as Movement-evoked pain. In chronic back pain this may be influenced by visual-proprioceptive cues. This suggests that patients may perceive back movement as potentially threatening thereby eliciting pre-emptive pain.

This study investigated whether manipulating visual feedback during lumbar flexion using virtual reality could alter the point at which patients with chronic low back pain begin experiencing pain.

Movement-evoked pain in chronic back pain may be influenced by visual-proprioceptive cues.
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The visual perception of less back movement was associated with higher pain threshold, and the perception of more back movement was associated with a lower threshold.

METHODS

50 participants with chronic low back pain performed forward bending movements while wearing a virtual reality headset. As they bent forward, they saw virtual hands reaching towards a virtual target on the floor. But the visual feedback was manipulated to

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