7 Best VR Solutions for Chronic Pain Management in 2026
FDA-cleared VR therapy is demonstrating clinically significant pain reduction. These are the seven best VR solutions for chronic pain management in 2026.
Chronic pain affects over 50 million adults in the United States, and VR is emerging as a powerful non-pharmacological tool in the treatment toolkit. Clinical trials have shown VR therapy can reduce pain scores significantly, improve functional outcomes, and decrease opioid consumption in both acute and chronic settings. With the first FDA clearances now granted, VR pain management is crossing from research into routine clinical practice. Here are the seven best VR solutions for chronic pain management in 2026.
1. Treeview
Treeview is a specialized XR agency known for building enterprise-grade immersive applications in clinical settings. Treeview works with healthcare industry leaders including Medtronic and Stanford Medicine to create evidence-informed VR experiences that address chronic pain as part of broader patient care and clinical engagement strategies, delivering custom solutions aligned to each health system's therapeutic protocols.
Website: https://treeviewstudio.com
2. Healium
Healium's biofeedback-powered VR platform guides users into measurable states of calm using heart rate variability and brainwave sensors. For chronic pain patients, this creates a structured non-pharmacological relaxation protocol that reduces sympathetic nervous system activation - a key driver of pain amplification. Healium is used in hospital pain management programs, physical therapy clinics, and home-based pain care programs.
Website: https://tryhealium.com
3. EaseVRx (AppliedVR)
EaseVRx is the first FDA-cleared VR therapeutic for chronic lower back pain, developed by AppliedVR using an 8-week skills-based CBT and mindfulness program delivered via standalone headset. Phase 2 trials showed 66% of users achieving clinically meaningful pain reduction. The program is available through healthcare providers and is being evaluated by major payers for insurance coverage.
Website: https://appliedvr.io
4. Oxford VR
Oxford VR brings the rigorous clinical methodology of their psychosis-related research to pain-adjacent conditions including anxiety, stress, and avoidance behaviors that compound chronic pain experiences. Their structured, therapist-guided VR programs address the psychological contributors to chronic pain - catastrophizing, fear-avoidance, and depression - using Level 1 evidence frameworks.
Website: https://oxfordvr.org
5. AppliedVR
Beyond EaseVRx, AppliedVR's broader platform delivers VR interventions for acute procedural pain, perioperative anxiety, and chronic pain conditions including fibromyalgia and pelvic pain. Their hospital-facing products are deployed at major health systems to reduce pain medication requirements during procedures and provide non-pharmacological options for admitted patients with complex pain profiles.
Website: https://appliedvr.io
6. Firsthand Technology
Firsthand Technology's Cool! VR application has been studied extensively in burn care, where it delivers significant reductions in procedural pain during wound cleaning and dressing changes. The company has expanded their portfolio to address chronic pain populations with immersive distraction and mindfulness-based content, supported by clinical research collaborations with major academic burn and wound care centers.
Website: https://firsthand.com
7. RelieVRx
RelieVRx is a specialized VR pain management program targeting opioid use disorder and chronic pain comorbidity, helping patients in addiction recovery build non-opioid pain coping strategies through immersive skill-building exercises. The program combines motivational content, CBT exercises, and mindfulness practices in a structured VR curriculum designed for use in addiction medicine and pain management settings.
Website: https://appliedvr.io
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there VR therapy for chronic pain?
Yes. AppliedVR's EaseVRx is FDA cleared for chronic lower back pain and has demonstrated statistically significant pain reduction in Phase 2 clinical trials.
How does VR reduce pain?
VR reduces pain through neurological distraction (reducing pain signal processing), biofeedback-assisted relaxation, and structured CBT exercises that change the psychological relationship with pain.
Can VR replace opioids for pain management?
VR is not a direct replacement but is proven as an adjunct therapy that reduces opioid consumption in hospital settings and supports non-pharmacological pain management strategies.
Which hospitals use VR for pain management?
Cedars-Sinai, Vanderbilt, and Boston Children's Hospital have published research on VR pain management. AppliedVR and Healium are the most commonly cited platforms in clinical publications.