"Jockey Club Confront Pain With Ease Project" VR Experience Center

In 2019, the Faculty of Medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong launched the 'Jockey Club Confront Pain With Ease Project.' The project is led by a community-based interdisciplinary team, including Dr. Regina Sit, Associate Professor (Clinical) of the Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care and Project Director, along with experts in Chinese medicine and other alternative therapies. The project aims to establish an evidence-based non-pharmacological pain management model for widespread application in primary care and promotion within the community. Another key aspect of the project is the application of digital resources in chronic pain management and treatment. Through innovative technology and community support, it aims to improve the quality of life for the elderly and increase social awareness of chronic pain. IF Interactive provided VR CAVE technology support for this project.

Background

Chronic musculoskeletal pain is a common global health issue, affecting one in five adults according to the World Health Organization. This pain significantly impacts the daily lives, mental health, and social activities of the elderly. To address this challenge, CUHK's Faculty of Medicine received a donation from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust to launch a three-year comprehensive program, providing non-drug treatment methods and improving the lives of the elderly through health education and scientific research.

Challenges

• Raising Health Awareness: Many elderly individuals reduce activity due to pain, leading to decreased quality of life and a need for increased health knowledge.
• Promoting Non-Drug Treatments: Long-term use of other medications can affect the efficacy of painkillers. Effective non-drug treatments are key, and virtual reality (VR) support is one approach.
• Enhancing Social Participation: Pain often leads to reduced social activities, further affecting mental health.

Solution

• Establishing a VR CAVE Experience Center: The VR CAVE Experience Center was developed by IF Interactive, using VR CAVE technology to provide a 270° immersive virtual environment for group mind-body exercise therapy. This technology allows the elderly to engage in activities in virtual natural settings, such as underwater or mountain scenes, with accompanying music and sound effects, creating a realistic experience. Compared to VR headsets, VR CAVE effectively reduces the risk of cybersickness and promotes social interaction with its multi-users feature.
  • Cybersickness: A type of dizziness caused by virtual reality experiences, similar to motion sickness, which can include symptoms like dizziness and nausea. The design of cave-style VR effectively reduces these discomforts.
• Offering Engaging Virtual Tai Chi and Yoga Experiences: Tai Chi and yoga are suitable exercises for the elderly, providing full-body strength training and helping to relieve chronic pain. Due to distractions in crowded parks and pain or financial constraints, outdoor opportunities may be limited. The program uses VR to allow the elderly to practice Tai Chi and yoga in virtual settings like snowy landscapes, lakesides, and rocky beaches, simulating travel experiences and promoting social connections.

Results

• Wide Participation: Over three years, the program served more than 20,000 participants, who generally reported positive outcomes.
• Increased Social Awareness: The program successfully raised public awareness about chronic pain in the elderly.
• Data-Driven Improvements: Collected data helped identify effective methods for improving musculoskeletal health in the elderly, advancing scientific research.

This program successfully combines innovative technology with health education, providing a new platform for pain management among the elderly. In the future, the program will continue to evolve, offering more diverse activities to further enhance the quality of life for the elderly.

Jockey Club Confront Pain With Ease Project: https://pain.sphpc.cuhk.edu.hk/

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