Innovative Rehabilitation: Integrating VR-Based Sensorimotor Training Into Comprehensive Neck Rehabilitation

Virtual reality, a novel form of technology, is gaining attention in the medical field for its potential to aid inpatient rehabilitation. This experience will immerse the patient in an interactive and engaging journey. Virtual reality feedback can assist patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain by offering them various sensory and motor tasks to enhance their postural control.

Moreover, virtual reality offers a distracting experience that aids in reducing patients' pain and emotional distress. Using a specialized device on their head (Head-mounted device) (HMD) or screen, patients can participate in computer-based exercises as part of virtual reality physical therapy.

Combining virtual reality with comprehensive sensorimotor training can be beneficial in treating chronic neck pain.

Inclusion criteria

• Fourty patients diagnosed with mechanical neck pain between 18- and 40 years old with mechanical neck pain.
• Patients with pain intensity scores (>3) on the visual analog scale (VAS; 0-100mm) for an average of three weeks before the study.
• Neck Disability Index (NDI) scoring 20%-60% (>6) (moderate to severe disability).

Exclusion criteria

• Any history of lower extremity or spine trauma or surgery, recognized and observable spinal deformity, neurological disorders, cervical fracture/dislocation, whiplash injuries, neurological/cardiovascular/respiratory disorders affecting patients' physical performance, or inability to provide informed consent.
• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), as confirmed by the Dix Hallpike test.
• Pregnancy.
• Patients who had received physical therapy interventions for neck pain within three months preceding the study were also ineligible for participation and were excluded.