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The purpose of this review was to (1) analyze the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality (iVR) and augmented reality (AR) as teaching/learning resources (collectively called XR‐technologies) for gaining anatomy knowledge compared to traditional approaches and (2) gauge students' perceptions of the usefulness of these technologies as learning tools. This meta‐analysis, previously registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023423017), followed PRISMA guidelines. A systematic bibliographical search, without time parameters, was conducted through four databases until June 2023. A meta‐analytic approach investigated knowledge gains and XR's usefulness for learning. Pooled effect sizes were estimated using Cohen's standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). A single‐group proportional meta‐analysis was conducted to quantify the percentage of students who considered XR devices useful for their learning. Twenty‐seven experimental studies, reporting data from 2199 health sciences students, were included for analysis. XR‐technologies yielded higher knowledge gains than traditional approaches (SMD = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.22 to 0.60), especially when used as supplemental/complementary learning resources (SMD = 0.52; 95% CI = 0.40 to 0.63). Specifically, knowledge performance using XR devices outperformed textbooks and atlases (SMD = 0.32; 95% CI = 0.10 to 0.54) and didactic lectures (SMD = 1.00; 95% CI = 0.57 to 1.42), especially among undergraduate students (SMD = 0.41; 95% CI = 0.20 to 0.62). XR devices were perceived to be more useful for learning than traditional approaches (SMD = 0.54; 95% CI = 0.04 to 1), and 80% of all students who used XR devices reported these devices as useful for learning anatomy. Learners using XR technologies demonstrated increased anatomy knowledge gains and considered these technologies useful for learning anatomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to analyze the perception of visual verticality (VV) in subjects with Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) and to correlate this with the symptoms of the disease and balance capacity. A cross-sectional study including 54 patients (51 female) was conducted. The evaluation of visual verticality was carried out with a virtual reality device by calculating the Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of degrees deviation in two tests: the Subjective Visual Vertical (SVV) test for the contribution of the vestibular system to the perception of verticality and the Rod and Frame test (RFT) for the contribution of the visual system. In total, 16 subjects (29.6%) presented good VV perception, 6 subjects (11.1%) presented an exclusive alteration of the SVV test, 19 subjects (35.2%) presented an exclusive alteration of the RFT and 13 subjects (24.1%) showed alteration in the two tests. The MAE in the SVV test showed medium correlations with several variables such as the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) (Rho = 0.399, p = 0.003), the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) (Rho = 0.417, p = 0.002), the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) (Rho = 0.376, p = 0.005), and the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC-16) (Rho = −0.367, p = 0.006). The MAE in the RFT showed medium correlations with the Instability Support Reduced (Rho = 0.327, p = 0.016) and Instability Gait Eyes Open (Rho = 0.312, p = 0.022) subscales of the JAEN (Joined Assessment of Equilibrium and Neuro-motor) Scale. Conclusions: Around 70% of the subjects with FMS showed some alteration in the perception of VV; 60% of these patients presented visual system dependence. The SVV test correlates with the impact and health status of FMS, and the RFT correlates with the alteration in the dynamic balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a highly prevalent health problem whose main symptom is widespread pain, although it presents as other manifestations, such as loss of balance, that seem to mainly affect visuo-vestibular information. Objective: to compare the effects of a Vestibular Rehabilitation (VR) program versus those of a Conventional Physical Exercise (CPE) program on the health status of patients with FMS. Methods: A single-blind randomized controlled trial was performed. Patients with FMS were randomly assigned to VR or CPE programs. The protocols were performed in 40 min group sessions, twice weekly, for 16 sessions. Perceived health status, static and dynamic balance, verticality perception, confidence in balance, sensitization and kinesiophobia were measured at baseline, post-treatment and at the three-month follow-up and analyzed using an intention-to-treat approach. Results: Forty-eight subjects were randomly assigned, of whom thirty-five completed the planned VR (n = 19) or CPE (n = 16) program. At the three-month follow-up, there were differences in physical health status measured with the SF-12 (mean = −4.36, SE = 1.88, p = 0.027), balance during walking (mean = 1.90, SE = 0.57, p = 0.002), the perception of verticality in degrees (mean = 3.61, SE = 1.51, p = 0.024) and the anteroposterior position of the center of pressure (mean = −7.88, SE = 2.80, p = 0.009), as well as a decrease in the number of falls (mean = 0.98, SE = 0.44, p = 0.033), favoring the VR group. Conclusions: Vestibular Rehabilitation can be as beneficial as conventional exercise in improving the state of health in patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome, providing additional improvements in physical health status, body balance, the perception of verticality and the number of falls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental pain testing requires specific equipment and may be uncomfortable for patients. The Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire (PSQ) was developed to assess pain sensitivity, based on the pain intensity ratings (range: 0–10) of painful situations that occur in daily life. The main objective of this study was to carry out a cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Spanish version of the PSQ (PSQ-S). A total of 354 subjects (296 healthy and 58 chronic pain patients) filled in the PSQ-S. A subgroup of 116 subjects performed experimental pain testing, including two modalities (cold and pressure), with different measures: pain intensity rating, pressure pain threshold, and tolerance. The validation results showed two factors: PSQ-S-moderate and PSQ-S-minor and, for the total scale and the two factors, an excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient > 0.9) and a substantial reliability (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient > 0.8). We obtained strong correlations with all the experimental pain rating parameters, catastrophizing, and depression variables, as well as moderate correlations with anxiety, central sensibilization, and impact on the quality of life. Chronic pain patients received elevated PSQ-S scores compared to healthy controls, and three cut-off values (PSQ-S-total = 7.00, PSQ-S-moderate = 7.57, and PSQ-S-minor = 6.29) based on ROC curve analyses were shown to be able to discriminate between healthy adults and adults with chronic pain. Therefore, PSQ-S may be a simple alternative to experimental pain procedures for clinical and experimental pain research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compile all the scientific evidence available to date to evaluate the effect of virtual reality based therapy (VRBT) on reducing pain intensity, kinesiophobia, and associated disability, and on increasing the hr-QoL in patients with chronic neck pain (CNP) or chronic low back pain (CLBP)., Methods: Studies published in PubMed Medline, SCOPUS, Web of Science, CINAHL Complete, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) up to June 2023 were searched. All searches followed the PICOS Framework. Two authors independently screened the studies found in the searches. Any differences of opinion regarding the selection of studies were settled by a third author., Results: Twenty-five RCTs, published between 2013 and 2022, providing data from 1261 patients (20 RCTs) with CLBP and 261 patients (five RCTs) with CNP, were included. In reducing pain intensity for patients with CLBP, meta-analyses showed that VRBT is effective in reducing pain just to the end of the intervention, and this effect could be maintained 1 and 6 months after the therapy., Conclusion: VRBT was found to be better than therapeutic exercise (TE), sham, and no intervention (NI), showing a major effect when VRBT was used as a complementary therapy to conventional physiotherapy (CPT). Further, VRBT showed an immediate effect and immersive VRBT was the most adequate VRBT modality in reducing pain in CNP patients. No differences were found between non-immersive VRBT and immersive VRBT in reducing pain, kinesiophobia, disability, and hr-QoL in patients with CLBP.