Pain Games: Virtual Reality As a Treatment for Pediatric Pain

Course Description:

Virtual reality (VR) is a new technology with promising results in rehabilitation, including the treatment of pain. The presenters are using VR when treating youth and adolescents with persistent pain, with both successes and challenges to share with Pediatric and Pain PT communities. This session will introduce VR use in rehabilitation, review pain neuroscience and the applied neurophysiology of VR. We will identify appropriate candidates, indications/contraindications and goals for VR in physical therapy. Case examples will be presented, and a lab session will give attendees an opportunity to experience VR. Studies show that Virtual Reality (VR) is effective in the treatment of pain for children and adults. Pain is complex and often difficult for healthcare providers to treat, with a high-cost burden for both the patient and healthcare system. Treatments that may offer better patient experience and outcomes and reduce costs are needed. VR may facilitate active movement and relaxation exposures that are the core of treatment for pain and many chronic conditions. Regardless of physical location, VR allows the patient to work in an immersive simulated natural environment when pain has disrupted the “real life” environment. Younger patients are uniquely qualified to be early adopters due to their acceptance and use of technology from an early age. With social acceptance of VR, physical therapists may use VR both in clinic and as home programming to transform pain to fun for both patients and their treating providers!

Course Objectives:

Following this webinar, the participant will be able to:

• Able to recognize common pediatric pain problems.
• Able to select virtual reality as an appropriate treatment for children with pain.
• Able to explain pain and VR effects on pain and function.

Speaker:

Kim Clarno, PT, DPT

Dr. Clarno is a pediatric pain physical therapist at Stanford Medicine - Childrens Health in Menlo Park, CA. She is dual board certified in Lifestyle Medicine by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and in Orthopedic Physical Therapy by the APTA/ABPT, and holds academic degrees from Stanford University, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and UIW Texas. She has given presentations about pain, physical therapy and pediatrics to state and national gatherings of physical therapists, psychologists and physicians. Dr. Clarno practices alongside pediatric pain physicians and psychologists within the interdisciplinary pain clinic at Stanford Children's Health, where her role includes elements of outpatient orthopedic physical therapy, pain physical therapy and pediatric developmental physical therapy. Dr. Clarno enjoys sharing the empowerment of physical therapy with her patients and co-faculty, using lifestyle strategies, specific exercise, and manual therapies to improve function and reduce pain. In her spare time, Dr. Clarno enjoys volunteering at a community health clinic and exploring the hills around the Bay Area, where the weather is always perfect!

Sarina Majmundar, PT, DPT

Dr Majmundar is a pediatric physical therapist at Stanford Children’s Health, specializing in pediatric pain. With both adult and pediatric population experience in outpatient care, her passion lies in pediatrics- especially in helping children navigate the complexities of chronic pain. For the past three years, she has focused exclusively on pediatric pain management and is the primary physical therapist within our intensive outpatient pediatric pain rehabilitation program at Stanford Children's. Her work in the intensive program fuels her deep appreciation for interdisciplinary collaboration. She thrives in a team-based environment, partnering closely with physicians, pain psychologists, occupational therapists, and other care members to deliver comprehensive, individualized care. Dr. Majmundar believes that this kind of teamwork is essential to truly support and empower patients on their journey toward improved function and quality of life.

CEUs:2.0 contact hours or 0.2 CEUs

Instruction Level:Basic