Virtual reality for the management of musculoskeletal pain: an umbrella review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Musculoskeletal pain (MSK) is a condition that affects multiple parts of the musculoskeletal system, including limbs, neck, and back, leading to deterioration in both mental and physical health and overall quality of life. Despite the available treatments, they are not considered effective enough to eradicate pain symptoms, thereby requiring new methods as a substitute. This review comprehensively summarizes virtual reality (VR) technology as an adjunct or an alternative treatment for MSK pain and aims to explore the most suitable conditions and settings of VR.

Methods

Pubmed, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were searched for recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses investigating VR and MSK pain. The search was performed according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting

SUBMITTER: Kalikanov S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12283739 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature