Virtual Reality Pain Relief- a project to assess usability of an innovative virtual reality prototype experience to reduce chronic back pain.

The Virtual Hippo Ltd are developing a virtual reality (VR) experience for use with a VR headset for people living with chronic back pain to modulate pain and lower stress. The techniques utilised in the experience design have been shown to decrease pain related activity in the brain and alter bodily perception and functioning which will be enhanced by the immersive nature of VR.

The combination of techniques coupled with the reduced self-referential processing and 'presence' seen in functional resonance magnetic imaging (FMRI) studies of participants brain activity whilst in a relaxing VR environment has the potential to profoundly reduce perceived pain.

The VR experience will incorporate proven and specific psychological stress reduction and pain management techniques into a VR environment creating a new innovative use of VR to modulate chronic back pain and lower perceived stress. The prototype will be tested during a pre-clinical study to assess usability and measure efficacy of stress reduction through participant feedback and non-invasive bio-physiological measures.

The study will be conducted via a 4-week 10 non-patient healthy participant study who will use the VR experience via a VR headset for approximately 10 minutes daily. The product will be developed with strict adherence to Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency guidelines and NHSX's Digital Technology Assessment Criteria for Health and Social Care (DTAC).