Intervention effect of virtual reality technology on chronic neck pain: A meta-analysis

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1004-583X.2025.09.001

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective To evaluate the effect of virtual reality (VR)-based intervention on pain symptoms and rehabilitation management in patients with chronic neck pain. Methods Articles reporting VR-based interventions against chronic neck pain published from the establishment of the databases to December 27, 2024 were searched in China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP, Wanfang Medical Database, China Biomedical Literature Service System, PubMed, Web of Science, EMbase, and the Cochrane Library. Two researchers independently screened the literatures, extracted data, and evaluated the quality. Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 16.0 software. Results A total of 7 studies involving 182 patients were included. The meta-analysis results showed that VR-based intervention significantly alleviated the pain intensity (the Numerical Rating Scale [NRS] score: $M D$ =-2.16, 95% $C I$ : -2.70, -1.62, $P$ <0.01; the Visual Analogue Scale [VAS] score: $M D$ =-1.42, 95% $C I$ : -1.82, -1.01, $P$ <0.01), neck dysfunction (Neck Disability Index [NDI]: $M D$ =-3.85, 95% $C I$ : -4.70, -3.00, $P$ <0.01), and kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia [TSK] score: $M D$ =-2.29, 95% $C I$ : -4.42, -0.16, $P$ <0.01) in patients with chronic neck pain. Conclusion VR technology, by creating immersive virtual environments and interactive training, can improve the pain intensity, neck dysfunction, and kinesiophobia in patients with chronic neck pain. Its normalization and standardization in clinical application still need further research support.

Key words: neck pain, virtual reality technology, chronic pain, meta-analysis

CLC Number:

R747

Xian Qinan, Xu Yiwen, Li Xin, Sun Yan. Intervention effect of virtual reality technology on chronic neck pain: A meta-analysis[J]. Clinical Focus, 2025, 40(9): 773-780.

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URL: https://www.lchc.cn/EN/10.3969/j.issn.1004-583X.2025.09.001

https://www.lchc.cn/EN/Y2025/V40/I9/773

Figures/Tables 11

Fig.1 Procedure diagram of article screening

Tab.1 Basic characteristics of the included studies

纳入研究	国家	样本量		疼痛性质	干预措施		干预时间	结局指标
纳入研究	国家	T	C	疼痛性质	T	C	干预时间	结局指标
Guo等^[14] 2024	中国	32	32	慢性颈部疼痛	VR康复加常规康复	常规康复	4周	① ③
Tejera等^[15] 2020	西班牙	22	22	慢性颈部疼痛	VR康复	常规康复	4周	②③④
Nusser等^[16] 2020	德国	17	20	慢性颈部疼痛	VR康复加常规康复	常规康复	3周	①③
I等^[17] 2019	伊朗	22	22	慢性颈部疼痛	VR康复	常规康复	4周	②③
Sarig Bahat等^[18] 2018	澳大利亚	48	51	慢性颈部疼痛	VR康复	无	4周	②③④
Emedoli等^[19] 2024	意大利	20	20	慢性颈部疼痛	VR康复加常规康复	常规康复	6周	①③④
Cetin等^[20] 2022	土耳其	21	20	慢性颈部疼痛	VR康复加常规康复	常规康复	6周	②

Tab.2 Results of bias risk assessment

纳入研究	随机方法	分配隐藏	研究者受试者施盲	结局盲法	结局数据完整	选择性报告研究结果	其他偏倚来源
Guo等^[14] 2024	低风险	低风险	高风险	不清楚	低风险	低风险	低风险
Tejera等^[15] 2020	不清楚	不清楚	高风险	低风险	低风险	低风险	低风险
Nusser等^[16] 2020	低风险	低风险	高风险	不清楚	低风险	低风险	低风险
I等^[17] 2019	低风险	低风险	高风险	低风险	低风险	低风险	不清楚
Sarig Bahat等^[18] 2018	低风险	低风险	高风险	不清楚	低风险	低风险	低风险
Emedoli等^[19] 2024	低风险	低风险	高风险	不清楚	低风险	低风险	不清楚
Cetin等^[20] 2022	不清楚	不清楚	高风险	不清楚	低风险	低风险	低风险

Fig.2 Bias risk graph

Fig.3 Forest map of the NRS scale

Fig.4 Forest map of the VAS scale

Fig.5 Forest map of the NDI scale

Fig.6 Forest plot of the TSK scale

Fig.7 Sensitivity analysis of the NRS scale

Fig.8 Sensitivity analysis of VAS scale

Tab.3 Egger test results

	$t$ 值	$P$ 值
NRS量表	1.73	0.33
VAS量表	2.00	0.18
NDI量表	0.16	0.88
TSK量表	4.14	0.15

Tab.3 Egger test results

	$t$ 值	$P$ 值
NRS量表	1.73	0.33
VAS量表	2.00	0.18
NDI量表	0.16	0.88
TSK量表	4.14	0.15

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