Evaluating VR Therapy Using Cold Pressor Test

Status:	Completed
Conditions:	Chronic Pain
Therapuetic Areas:	Musculoskeletal
Healthy:	No
Age Range:	18 - 65
Updated:	1/13/2019
Start Date:	September 10, 2017
End Date:	July 20, 2018

Using the Cold Pressor Test to Assess Effectiveness of Low-Cost, Immersive Virtual Reality Therapy

This study is testing whether or not low-cost, virtual reality (VR) headsets for mobile
phones can be used as a potential distractor from pain and thus would have clinical
applications as a low-cost, non-pharmaceutical method to increase pain tolerance in patients
undergoing painful or uncomfortable procedures. To do this, the investigators are asking
volunteers to submerge their hand up to the wrist in cold water (Cold Pressor Test), either
while playing an interactive virtual reality game on the headset, or while wearing a VR
headset that is turned off as a control. The investigators will record the participants'
tolerance to cold water as measured by how long the participants are able to keep their hand
in the cold water.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Healthy adult Mayo Clinic students and employees

Exclusion Criteria:

- Participants who are known to be sensitive to VR technology and/or have undesirable
reactions to VR technology (i.e. dizziness, motion sickness)

- Participants with significant alcohol/smoking histories, sickle cell anemia, history
of previous myocardial infarction and/or coronary artery disease, malignant
hypertension, metabolic

- dysfunctions, pregnancy, Raynaud's disease, epilepsy, severe mental disorders, chronic
pain conditions, or diseases producing neuropathic pain

- Participants that have used drugs/alcohol the day prior to the study

We found this trial at

sites

Mayo Clinic Rochester

200 First Street SW
Rochester, Minnesota 55905

507-284-2511