Therapeutic Virtual Reality in Rheumatology: A Narrative Review

Tsigarides, Jordan, Sabu, Benjamin Kannuralil, Al-Amri, Mohammad, Hughes, Samuel and Fuggle, Nicholas (2026) Therapeutic Virtual Reality in Rheumatology: A Narrative Review. touchREVIEWS in RMD. pp. 26-34. ISSN 2635-1420

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Abstract

Therapeutic virtual reality (VR) is an evolving digital health technology with the potential to address complex, multidimensional symptoms across chronic diseases. In rheumatology, pervasive symptoms such as chronic pain, fatigue and fear of movement remain substantial despite conventional therapies. VR offers a unique opportunity to deliver therapeutic content through immersive, engaging experiences that can address a wide range of clinical and psychological needs. Its capacity for personalization, interactivity and remote accessibility makes it a promising non-pharmacological tool for supporting self-management and expanding access to care in the home setting. This structured narrative review aims to describe the current literature on immersive therapeutic VR across a broad spectrum of rheumatological conditions, including chronic low back pain, chronic neck pain, complex regional pain syndrome, fibromyalgia syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and others. The review explores a range of VR interventions, from embodiment and sensorimotor training to attention modulation and guided meditation. It also examines study design characteristics and highlights methodological limitations. By identifying current trends, gaps and challenges, this article provides a foundation for future research and guides the development of clinically meaningful, scalable and accessible immersive VR therapeutics in rheumatology.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	chronic pain,digital therapeutics,immersive technology,musculoskeletal,rheumatology,virtual reality
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Health Sciences
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Public Health
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	11 Mar 2026 11:30
Last Modified:	15 Mar 2026 07:30
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/102302
DOI:	10.17925/rmd.2026.5.1.2

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