The SnowWorld VR Game Treats Pain More Effectively Than Morphine
Ellen Smith — October 12, 2017 — Lifestyle
References: vrpain & hitl.washington.edu
SnowWorld is an interactive virtual reality game which serves as a method of pain distraction and relief for burn victims undergoing wound care -- an excruciating process which can occur multiple times a day.
The game immerses patients into a magical world that requires users to throw snowballs at virtual penguins and snowmen. The game effectively diverts a patient's attention away from painful procedures, by occupying the brain with another task. In a small clinical trial, 40 patients reported experiencing 60 to 75-percent less pain during the VR session, whereas morphine only provided patients with an average of 30-percent less pain.
The use of virtual reality as a method of pain relief serves as an effective alternative to the over-prescription of opioid medications in the United States, which has tripled since the 1990s.
The game immerses patients into a magical world that requires users to throw snowballs at virtual penguins and snowmen. The game effectively diverts a patient's attention away from painful procedures, by occupying the brain with another task. In a small clinical trial, 40 patients reported experiencing 60 to 75-percent less pain during the VR session, whereas morphine only provided patients with an average of 30-percent less pain.
The use of virtual reality as a method of pain relief serves as an effective alternative to the over-prescription of opioid medications in the United States, which has tripled since the 1990s.
Trend Themes
1. Virtual Reality Pain Relief - Virtual reality games like SnowWorld offer a distraction from pain and have the potential to reduce the reliance on opioid medications.
2. Enhanced Pain Management - The use of virtual reality games for pain distraction and relief provides a more effective alternative to traditional pain management techniques.
3. Immersive Healing Experiences - By immersing patients in engaging virtual worlds, virtual reality games create a more positive and tolerable experience during painful medical procedures.
Industry Implications
1. Healthcare - Virtual reality games offer a disruptive innovation opportunity in pain management and patient care within the healthcare industry.
2. Gaming - The development of virtual reality games specifically designed for pain distraction and relief opens up new possibilities and markets within the gaming industry.
3. Pharmaceuticals - The use of virtual reality as an alternative to opioid medications presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for pharmaceutical companies in pain management.
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