Video Games as a New Step in Pain Management

Video games have long been known as a distraction from the mundane world, drawing children and adults' attention away from the task at hand and consuming their attention for hours at a time. However, the true benefit of this characteristic of video games is only beginning to be recognized by the medical community.

Video games immerse a player's senses, bathing them in light and sound. Details flash by the screen quickly, and audio hints are given at a moment's notice. A substantial amount of focus is needed to maintain the proper state of mind to successfully play a video game.

While distractions have been used for years to help patients deal with chronic pain, the idea of using video games medically is usually assumed to be wishful thinking.

However, recent studies blow this assumption out of the water.

Common tests set up an experiment to occupy one group's mind with a virtual reality game while immersing one hand in freezing water, while a control group sits with no distractions and the same painful stimuli. Using equipment to monitor patient's vital signs, scientists find that the group with the distraction can tolerate significantly higher levels of painful stimuli.

Video game technology is actually in use in many medical clinics to treat chemotherapy patients, and has the potential to treat many other patients suffering from chronic pain.

While the effect is largely temporary, results show that the resistance to pain does hang on for a short period after play has ceased. It is by no means a permanent cure for chronic pain, but studies do show the potential for video games to treat short-term pain.