Kronik Boyun Ağrısı Olan Kişilerde Sanal Gerçeklik Uygulamalarının Etkinliğinin İncelenmesi

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) in people with chronic neck pain. Thirty-four patients, who had no neurological deficits and suffered from neck pain for at least 3 months, were enrolled to the study. The patients were divided into 2 groups with simple randomization method as the "VR applied in addition to motor control exercises group" (VR group) (n = 17) and "motor control exercises group" (control group) (n = 17). Patients in both groups performed the treatment program 3 days a week for 6 weeks in total. Pain level, pain threshold, range of motion (ROM), joint position sense (JPS), muscle performance, posture, balance, disability level, anxiety /depression, kinesiophobia and quality of life of all participants in the study, were evaluated twice; before and after treatment. After the study, the individuals in both groups were followed for 1 month and the exercise compliance was determined. Pain severity, pain threshold, ROM, JPS, muscle performance, posture, some parameters of balance, level of disability, kinesiophobia and quality of life were improved in both groups after treatment (p <0.05); there was no improvement in cervical lordosis angle (posture) and some parameters of balance (p> 0.05). The VR group was more effective in terms of C1-C2 and C5-C6 pain threshold values, JPS, vestibular component of balance, anxiety /depression and kinesiophobia, while the control group was more effective in terms of posture (p <0.05). The VR group performed the exercises for more days in 1-month follow-up. These results showed that the application of VR in addition to the motor control exercises could be more effective in reducing pain, functional limitations, anxiety/depression and kinesiophobia, improving the vestibular component of balance, JPS and exercise compliance, and VR can be used in addition to treatment program in individuals with chronic neck pain.