VR games may help tame pain without pills
NCT ID NCT05836649
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether playing active or watching passive virtual reality (VR) games can change how healthy people feel heat and pressure pain. 265 adults used a VR headset in different ways, and researchers measured their pain thresholds. The goal is to see if VR could be a non-drug way to help manage pain.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Virtual reality (VR) headset with either passive or active games
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward using VR as a drug-free way to help manage pain during medical procedures or in daily life.
- What could go wrong
- This was a small, early study in healthy people, not patients with chronic pain. The effects may not apply to real-world pain conditions, and some people may experience motion sickness or discomfort.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Lucile Parkard Children's Hospital
Stanford, California, 94304, United States
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