This episode covers the non-drug related treatments of chronic pain as well as my work over the last 3 years studying psychological informed virtual reality programs that can be self-administered by the patient in their home. It's a long episode because I cover not only chronic pain, but also remote clinical trials. Given my interest in psychiatry and my previous work, this episode does not focus as much on physical therapy as it does psychology-related treatments. However, several of the resources below pertain to physical therapy for chronic pain. In the discussion on remote trials I provide a few key takeaways for startups and researchers.
Challenges facing chronic pain treatment
Pain psychology: A global needs assessment and national call to action
Relieving Pain in America: A Blueprint for Transforming Prevention, Care, Education, and Research
Nondrug based treatments
Noninvasive Nonpharmacological Treatment for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review
Physical activity and exercise for chronic pain in adults: an overview of Cochrane Reviews
Psychological therapies for the management of chronic pain (excluding headache) in adults
Mind-Body Therapies for Opioid-Treated Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
My work in Chronic Pain
Other VR papers
Virtual reality for acute and chronic pain management in adult patients: a narrative review
Virtual Reality in Pain Rehabilitation for Youth With Chronic Pain: Pilot Feasibility Study
Virtual Reality Augments Movement during Physical Therapy: A Pragmatic Randomized Trial
Embodiment in Virtual Reality for the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain: A Case Series
A Virtual Reality Game for Chronic Pain Management: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Study