February 1, 2021
The VR exercise encouraged participants to use their senses to focus on different parts of a scene.
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Experts are just beginning to understand how mindfulness can improve the lives of people living with chronic disease, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Promising new research shows that virtual reality (VR) can be an extremely useful tool for helping kids and young adults practice mindfulness. The technology is becoming more available in children’s hospitals, and at-home headsets will expand access even more.
Researchers from Stanford University in California set out to determine how VR technology could be used to help children and young adults manage symptoms associated with IBD. They focused on short sessions centered on mindfulness and asked participants to rate their pain and anxiety before and after the session. They presented their findings at the 2020 Crohn’s and Colitis Congress.