使用虚拟现实的运动想象对健康个体疼痛敏感性和情感的影响：一项前瞻性随机交叉研究。

Niwa Yuto, Shimo Kazuhiro, Ohga Satoshi, Hattori Takafumi, Dokita Ayaka, Matsubara Takako

Faculty of Rehabilitation, Kobe Gakuin University Graduate School, Kobe, Hyogo 651-2180, Japan.

Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Kobe Gakuin University, Kobe, Hyogo 651-2180, Japan.

Pain Med. 2024 Oct 1;25(10):612-619. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnae043.

OBJECTIVE

Exercise induces a hypoalgesic response and improves affect. However, some individuals are unable to exercise for various reasons. Motor imagery, involving kinesthetic and visual imagery without physical movement, activates brain regions associated with these benefits and could be an alternative for those unable to exercise. Virtual reality also enhances motor imagery performance because of its illusion and embodiment. Therefore, we examined the effects of motor imagery combined with virtual reality on pain sensitivity and affect in healthy individuals.

DESIGN

Randomized crossover study.

SETTING

Laboratory.

SUBJECTS

Thirty-six participants (women: 18) were included.

METHODS

Each participant completed three 10-min experimental sessions, comprising actual exercise, motor imagery only, and motor imagery combined with virtual reality. Hypoalgesic responses and affective improvement were assessed using the pressure-pain threshold and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, respectively.

RESULTS

All interventions significantly increased the pressure-pain threshold at the thigh (P < .001). Motor imagery combined with virtual reality increased the pressure-pain threshold more than motor imagery alone, but the threshold was similar to that of actual exercise (both P ≥ .05). All interventions significantly decreased the negative affect of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (all P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Motor imagery combined with virtual reality exerted hypoalgesic and affective-improvement effects similar to those of actual exercise.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION

The study was enrolled in the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (registration number: UMIN000046095). The website for registration information is https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000052614.

目的

运动可引发痛觉减退反应并改善情绪状态。然而，由于各种原因，一些人无法进行运动。运动想象，即涉及不伴有身体运动的动觉和视觉想象，可激活与这些益处相关的脑区，对于无法运动的人而言可能是一种替代方式。虚拟现实因其具有的错觉和沉浸感，也能提升运动想象的表现。因此，我们研究了运动想象与虚拟现实相结合对健康个体疼痛敏感性和情绪状态的影响。