Rehab Reimagined Blogs & Research

Rehab Reimagined Blogs & Research

Breathing, Relaxation, and Pain Distraction: Evidence-Based Approaches in VR
Pain Distraction, Breathing, Relaxation, XR in Rehabilitation Emily Daviss PT, DPT Pain Distraction, Breathing, Relaxation, XR in Rehabilitation Emily Daviss PT, DPT

Breathing, Relaxation, and Pain Distraction: Evidence-Based Approaches in VR

In practice, I have seen this effect firsthand. One patient, confined to bed and relying on narcotic pain medication, initially resisted therapy because his pain was overwhelming. Once immersed in a distraction-based VR environment, his focus shifted entirely. His breathing slowed, his muscles softened, and his expression changed. Within minutes, his reported pain dropped from a 9 to a 2. When the nurse returned with his next medication dose, he declined it, saying he finally felt ready to get up and walk. This moment captured what the data shows: distraction through immersion is not avoidance; it is engagement through relief.

Read More