Immersive VR May Offer Relief for Chronic Pain Sufferers

University of Exeter researchers have released a study¹ delving into the effects of VR pain reduction therapy on people suffering from chronic pain. Their work sheds light on how virtual nature-based social prescribing can deliver effects similar to painkillers. Here’s what you need to know.

Chronic Pain is a Serious Concern

Chronic pain can be described as a pain that continues for +3 months or more. Chronic pain can occur for many reasons, including genetics, living conditions, and previous injuries. Some interesting facts about this pain are that it disproportionately affects women, the elderly, and those living in low-income areas with reduced access to healthcare. Sadly, this situation is the reality for approximately 24.3% of adults in the US alone, according to recent reports.

Chronic pain can make it difficult for a person to conduct daily activities, find suitable employment, or even enjoy a peaceful moment alone.  Additionally, those suffering from chronic pain have a limited number of solutions to help them. Their options include taking medications like pain killers, undergoing physical or psychological therapy, and using natural remedies.

How Nature Exposure Helps Chronic Pain

One treatment for chronic pain and stress reduction that has been used for centuries is nature immersion. Ancient cultures recognized the healing effects experienced when one is surrounded by nature. This practice has been brought back to the forefront of scientific research as engineers seek to understand why it has been so effective.

Nature Therapy

There have been several studies into the effects of nature on pain. Interestingly, these studies delved into the effectiveness of nature immersion on short-term pain. The research revealed that even spending as little as 30 minutes immersed in nature can improve daily pain. Even more notable is how several studies have shown that you can get a similar effect using virtual reality.

Virtual Reality Immersion Treatment

Recently, scientists began to utilize VR to simulate nature for immersion therapy. This approach enables people to venture into hyper-realistic scenarios via a VR headset and other sensory input systems to simulate a walk through a wooded area or by a babbling brook.

In one study, engineers created a VR experience in a redwood forest. They went as far as to gather actual scents from the area and replay them during the immersion therapy. The results showed that VR nature exposure produces the same effects as taking a walk outdoors. This research and other studies have helped to drive VR usage in treatment for various ailments and pains.

There are many benefits to using a VR system. For one, it enables people who have mobility issues or who are miles from a real natural experience to easily access these areas, albeit digitally. As research into VR treatments expands, more scientists have begun to focus their efforts on gaining a better understanding of the mechanisms of nature-based pain relief.

Thankfully, a team of engineers from the University of Exeter has just helped to pull back the veil on this vital topic with their latest work.

VR Pain Reduction Study

The “Immersion in nature through virtual reality attenuates the development and spread of mechanical secondary hyperalgesia: a role for insulo-thalamic effective connectivity” study, published in the journal Pain, takes an in-depth look at the effect of VR treatment exposure on long-term pain sensitivity.

The study combines next-gen immersive virtual reality to create soothing natural 360-degree experiences of outdoor areas like waterfalls and wooded trails. From there, the team conducted several psychometric assessments to determine if and by how much  VR Immersion treatment can reduce the development of pain sensitivity.

They also delved into how immersion plays a role in tricking the brain into believing that it’s in a natural environment. This approach allowed them to track with great detail how an enhanced sense of presence can initiate the brain’s pain suppression systems.

How the VR Pain Study Was Conducted

There were several methods used by the engineers to test their theories regarding VR immersion therapy in reducing chronic pain. The team used functional magnetic resonance imaging brain scans, alongside psychometric assessments, to track the development of secondary mechanical hyperalgesia across 3 states in 30 healthy patients.

The study involved delivering a mild electrical shock to the patients while showing them tranquil scenes. The electrical shock was administered to their forearm and was designed to mimic chronic pain by inducing sensations within central nociceptive pathways.

Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Study

The first time this pain was administered, the patients were not shown anything, enabling them to feel the pain sharply. From there, the team monitored alterations in the amount of pain the patients felt for 50 minutes following the electric shock therapy.

During the next visit, patients were administered the same electrical shocks. This time, they were shown an HD 2D video of a beautiful pathway in nature. This non-immersive 2D video allowed the engineers to track any change in pain reception based on video and sound inputs.

During the final visit, the participants were subjected to the same shock, but this time they were given full 3D VR immersion therapy during the shock. The engineers used brain scans to monitor exactly what pain pathways were altered during all three processes and then compared the results.

Additionally, the patients filled out questionnaires following the trials. The questions revolved around their personal feelings, both physically and mentally. Together, this data provided some interesting results that could help to reshape medical treatments moving forward.

VR Pain Reduction Test Results

The team noted that their natural VR treatment provided similar effects to painkillers. They acknowledged that this style of treatment can alter how pain signals get sent to the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system, helping to improve long-term pain conditions.

Brain Connectivity and Pain Response

The study revealed that the more immersed a person felt in the video and the more immersed a person felt, the more their brain activated natural pain-relief responses. A multisensory VR experience amplified this effect, meaning that the brain can be duped into believing it’s in a beautiful, serene natural environment, enabling patients to benefit.

Specifically, the team utilized neuroimaging to determine how nature VR-induced analgesic effects correlated with insulo-thalamic effective connectivity.  For the first time, the scientist documented how immersive nature VR  reduced the development and spread of mechanical secondary hyperalgesia, opening the door for future studies.

VR Pain Reduction Offers a Lasting Effect

Perhaps one of the most interesting findings of their work is that the effects of the VR immersion treatment lasted even after the person stopped using the system. They noted that the brain continued to signal the release of painkillers for up to 5 minutes following the immersion therapy.

VR Pain Reduction Study Benefits

There are several benefits that this work brings to the table. For one, it will open the door for a better understanding of how the brain handles pain and the coping mechanisms the body can utilize to prevent daily discomfort. This information will help researchers to develop more effective long-term treatments for those suffering from chronic pain.

Inexpensive and Reusable

Using VR to treat long-term chronic pain could save patients lots of money. Medications are expensive and can be difficult to get if supply chain issues emerge, like during the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizing a VR pain reduction treatment provides a low-cost alternative.

Medical professionals would only need to purchase a single unit to be able to provide this treatment to multiple patients and mitigate their pain. Additionally, it’s a one-time purchase versus having to constantly purchase medications and painkillers. All of these factors make VR immersion treatment an attractive option to both medical professionals and patients.

VR Pain Reduction Is a Non-Addictive Option

Perhaps one of the biggest advantages of immersive VR treatment is that it’s non-addictive. Painkillers have become a major problem with many people finding it difficult to stop using them following their treatments. This VR alternative will help to prevent future addictions as it eliminates the harmful side effects of these medications.

VR Pain Reduction Real-World Applications & Timeline:

There are several real-world applications for this study. For one, this data will help medical professionals develop more effective treatment methods. In the future, this study could result in those suffering from chronic pain simply owning a VR headset and a treatment video, enabling them to enjoy nature whenever they require pain relief.

This data will help both VR developers and medical professionals. As medical VR services become more common, there will be more companies that emerge with a sole focus on providing hyper-realistic treatment videos and services. Additionally, this study could help to drive innovation in the sector in the form of additional sensory inputs.

Already, there are VR systems that can provide additional sensory input in the form of tactile response and even scent dispensers. When used together, the results are a truly immersive experience that tricks your brain into experiencing the benefits of real nature.

VR Pain Reduction Timeline

This tech in this study is already available, and there have been a lot more healthcare providers turning towards VR systems as treatment solutions lately. As such, this technology could be put into use in the next 3 years. The engineers will need to conduct further research into the long-term effects of this approach in the meantime.

VR Pain Reduction Researchers

This report was put forth by a team of University of Exeter engineers. Specifically, the paper lists Dr Sam Hughes as the lead author.  He is a Senior Lecturer in Pain Neuroscience at the University. It also lists Sonia Medina as a co-author of the study. Notably, the project received financial support from the Academy of Medical Sciences.

The Future of VR Pain Management

The future of immersive VR treatment for chronic pain looks bright. The data continues to highlight how this method of treatment cuts costs and can be administered with minimal effort versus other treatment options. As such, you will see the engineers work with VR manufacturers to attempt to make their experience as immersive as possible in the coming years, achieving the highest level of realism the tech can support.

Investing in the VR Market

There are several firms that dominate the VR market. These companies continue to develop virtual worlds that push the limits of immersion and imagination. Here’s one company that has secured a reputation in the market as an innovative firm that continues to push for large-scale adoption of VR technologies.

Axon Enterprise

Axon Enterprise (AXON -3.46%) entered the market in 1993 as AIR TASER. The company was founded by two brothers, Rick and Tom Smith, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Their goal was to create a non-lethal way for law enforcement to incapacitate individuals without leaving any permanent damage.

Their product, the Air Taser, used compressed gas to fire small metallic hooks that were hooked up to electrodes into an assailant. The device then produces an electrical charge that is designed to interrupt the brain’s electrical currents to the muscles, causing the person to fall to the ground, helpless.

In 2001, the company hosted a successful IPO amid growing demand for its products. In 2017, the firm rebranded into Axon Enterprise. This rebranding was part of a larger strategy to expand the company’s offerings to include body cameras and VR training systems.

Today, Axon Enterprise dominates the stun gun market and has built a significant following for its Axon VR training program. This software uses VR to help police officers learn how to better judge when to de-escalate a situation or when to use lethal force. Notably, +1500 law enforcement agencies utilize this technology currently.

Latest Axon Enterprise (AXON) Stock News and Developments

VR Pain Reduction | Conclusion

Immersive VR treatments provide a low-cost and reusable option for those seeking relief from chronic pain. Consequently, millions of people around the globe could benefit from the work found in this study. Hopefully, the engineers can fast-track their findings and get their treatment to the masses as soon as possible. For now, this team deserves a salute for their efforts, which could have a resounding effect on the medical field moving forward.

Learn about other cool VR projects here.

Studies Referenced:

^{1. Medina, Sonia; Hughes, Sam W.*. Immersion in nature through virtual reality attenuates the development and spread of mechanical secondary hyperalgesia: a role for insulo-thalamic effective connectivity. PAIN ():10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003701, July 23, 2025. | DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003701}