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How virtual reality can help reduce pain

Theory

Louis Zantema

As Science Officer and Founder of the Reducept Company, Louis has +8 Years of clinical expertise in treating patients with chronic pain as a psychologist. Awarded for exceptional performance by the Royal House, he also shares a great passion for gaming. His aim is to make himself dispensable as a pain therapist.

Louis Zantema

What is Virtual Reality?

Virtual Reality, VR for short, is the digital world we view through VR glasses. Especially in recent years, VR technology has been evolving. Companies like Pico have released affordable VR glasses to make VR accessible. The use of Virtual Reality for pain has been researched for quite some time. Even before VR glasses became accessible, there were many studies.  

The emotional brain

Because the emotional part of our brain makes little distinction between reality and VR, there are many more treatment possibilities there. If we know what image or idea people have of their own complaint, they can be "exposed" to it in VR.  

By applying VR we can create an emotionally convincing environment that has more impact on pain! In this way you can get a grip on a problem that is not as literal as a clear fear of something in the outside world. But, for example, more "internal problems" like depression, burnout, or in the case of Reducept: pain issues.

Getting a grip on your chronic pain

Getting a grip on symptoms, by forming a different picture of your problem, can be done in many ways. Every caregiver, especially psychologists, help people get a different view of their problem. From writing therapy, to formulating helpful thoughts and mindfulness meditation. By looking at complaints in a different way, it becomes possible to do something about them, or to accept them.   3 examples:

  1. Anxiety is a healthy system that can be trained.
  2. The brain is flexible and can unlearn what has been learned.
  3. Burnout is the body's warning signal that you are asking too much of yourself. 

Try Reducept today

Every case of chronic pain is different, but we believe it is possible to help every patient. We have based the Reducept method on scientific research to help pain patients understand and overcome their pain.

The Reducept game is available to patients exclusively from our medical partners. Click here to see if your doctor or therapist is part of our network and can offer you the Reducept method as part of your treatment.

How virtual reality can help reduce pain

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