BUFFALO, N.Y. — Virtual reality can be a fun way to pass time, but research shows it may also be a good way to treat pain.

“Virtual reality technology attracted us because of its immersive characteristics. It distracts users and puts them in another environment,” said Dr. Somayeh Besharat Shafiei, assistant professor of oncology at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

A study done by the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center combined brain imaging with the use of functional near-infrared spectroscopy, also known as fNRIS, to measure the activity of the brain and the oxygenation and deoxygenation of hemoglobin.

“Which is what the technology does, you can actually evaluate areas in the some of the sensory cortex. That is where pain is ultimately detected. We say, ‘no brain, no pain,’” said Dr. Oscar de Leon-Casasola, chief of pain medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. 

What You Need To Know

  • A recent clinical research study led by Roswell Park has identified a way to measure pain in cancer patients in a non-invasive way that also incorporates VR
  • The study enrolled 147 participants
  • The main goal of the VR is to distract patients from their pain

The fNRIS is placed on the head of the patient to determine the differences between patients that did not have pain and those who had pain.

“We know that cancer patients usually think about their disease, their pain and all the symptoms of cancer,” Besharat Shafiei said.

And that’s where virtual reality comes in.

The study enrolled 147 participants, including 13 healthy patients who wore fNIRS head caps for 10 minutes, 93 cancer patients experiencing pain who wore head caps for 10 minutes and 41 cancer patients experiencing pain who wore head caps and VR headsets for a total of 29 minutes —10 minutes before VR, nine minutes during and 10 minutes after.

The main goal of the VR is to distract patients from their pain.

“Redirect them from focusing on cancer and direct their attention to some interesting and useful environment, which is calming, and then and see if it is effective in reducing their pain,” Besharat Shafiei said.

Results found that for pain-afflicted cancer patients who used the VR program, more than 75% self-reported a decrease in pain.

“It is a wonderful alternative because it doesn't have side effects,” De Leon-Casasola said. “So even if you are not using opioids, there are side effects associated with those medications to treat neuropathic pain. There’s a lot of work to be done. And so this was just the beginning."