Application of Virtual Reality Technology in Prehabilitation for Patients with Lumbar Degenerative Diseases

doi:10.12104/j.issn.1674-4748.2025.09.020

Abstract：Objective: To explore the effect of virtual reality (VR) technology in prehabilitation for patients with lumbar degenerative diseases. Methods: A total of 94 patients with lumbar degenerative diseases who underwent general anesthesia surgery at the Department of Spine Surgery, Tangshan No. 2 Hospital, from August to December 2023 were selected as the study subjects and divided into VR group (n=46) and conventional group (n=48) according to admission time. The conventional group received routine prehabilitation functional exercise guidance and psychological intervention, while the VR group received additional VR-based intervention. The effectiveness of prehabilitation was evaluated using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), the modified Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and the Orthopedic Patient Compliance Scale for Functional Exercise at T0 (before intervention), T1 (1 day before surgery), T2 (7 days after surgery), and T3 (1 month after surgery). The hospitalization duration and the time of first ambulation were compared between the two groups. Results: After intervention, the compliance scores of the VR group at T1, T2, and T3 were higher than those of the conventional group (P-group < 0.001, P-interaction < 0.05). The NRS and ODI scores of the VR group gradually decreased and were lower than those of the conventional group (P-group < 0.05, P-interaction < 0.05). The hospitalization duration before surgery, after surgery, total hospitalization duration, and time of first ambulation in the VR group were all shorter than those in the conventional group (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Applying virtual reality technology in prehabilitation for patients with degenerative lumbar diseases can alleviate perioperative pain, improve exercise compliance, and thus rapidly improve postoperative lumbar function and enable early return to family life.