Aggiornamenti

La realtà virtuale come trattamento per le sindromi da dolore muscoloscheletrico cronico: Un aggiornamento

Vincenzo Damico 7 Luglio 2026

Virtual Reality as a Treatment for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Syndromes: An Update

Vincenzo Damico
PhD in Scienze Infermieristiche e Sanità Pubblica. Infermiere, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale di Lecco; Tutor Didattico, Corso di Laurea in Infermieristica, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca

Riassunto
Introduzione: Il dolore cronico muscoloscheletrico, in particolare il mal di schiena e la fibromialgia, costituisce una sfida sanitaria ed economica globale a causa dell’efficacia limitata delle terapie farmacologiche tradizionali e della scarsa aderenza ai trattamenti convenzionali. In questo scenario, la Realtà Virtuale (VR) si delinea come un’opzione terapeutica innovativa, sicura e potenzialmente scalabile. Questo contributo offre un aggiornamento clinico e tecnologico sull’uso della VR nella gestione delle sindromi algiche croniche.
Focus e meccanismi d’azione: L’analisi approfondisce le proprietà terapeutiche intrinseche della VR – quali immersione, interazione e presenza – e i complessi meccanismi neurofisiologici sottostanti l’analgesia virtuale. Accanto alla distrazione cognitiva e all’integrazione con l’ipnosi, vengono esaminati i processi di condizionamento e neuromodulazione a lungo termine, nonché la capacità della VR. Vengono inoltre discussi i dati correnti su efficacia clinica, profili di sicurezza (connessi alla prevenzione della cybersickness) e gli attuali standard regolatori per i dispositivi medici certificati.
Prospettive e conclusioni: Il futuro della VR in ambito antalgico risiede nell’ottimizzazione ergonomica, nell’integrazione multisensoriale offerta dalla Realtà Aumentata (AR) e nella transizione verso contesti domiciliari ed ambulatoriali, capaci di favorire la regolarità terapeutica e l’igiene del sonno. Per rendere la VR uno standard di cura, la ricerca dovrà orientarsi verso una medicina di precisione che identifichi i fenotipi dei pazienti che rispondono meglio al trattamento. In conclusione, la VR si consolida come uno strumento efficiente e clinicamente rilevante, sia all’interno di programmi ospedalieri multidisciplinari sia come soluzione per la continuità assistenziale a domicilio.
Parole chiave: realtà virtuale; dolore cronico muscoloscheletrico; analgesia da distrazione; medicina personalizzata; dispositivi medici.

Abstract
Introduction: Chronic musculoskeletal pain, particularly back pain and fibromyalgia, poses a significant global healthcare and economic challenge due to the limited efficacy of traditional pharmacological therapies and poor adherence to conventional treatments. In this scenario, Virtual Reality (VR) emerges as an innovative, safe, and potentially scalable therapeutic option. This paper provides a clinical and technological update on the use of VR in the management of chronic pain syndromes.

Focus and mechanisms of action: The analysis delves into the intrinsic therapeutic properties of VR—such as immersion, interaction, and presence—and the complex neurophysiological mechanisms underlying virtual analgesia. Alongside cognitive distraction and integration with hypnosis, long-term conditioning and neuromodulation processes are examined, as well as the capacity of VR. Furthermore, current data on clinical efficacy, safety profiles (related to the prevention of cybersickness), and the existing regulatory standards for certified medical devices are discussed.
Perspectives and conclusions: The future of VR in pain management lies in ergonomic optimization, the multisensory integration offered by Augmented Reality (AR), and the transition toward home-based and outpatient settings capable of promoting treatment regularity and sleep hygiene. To establish VR as a standard of care, future research must shift toward precision medicine to identify the specific patient phenotypes that respond best to the treatment. In conclusion, VR solidifies its role as an efficient and clinically relevant tool, both within multidisciplinary hospital programs and as a solution for home-based continuity of care.
Keywords: virtual reality; chronic musculoskeletal pain; distraction analgesia; personalized medicine; medical devices.

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