Virtual Reality Therapy to Improve Arthroplasty Outcomes

Virtual reality (VR) has recently emerged as a non-medication-based method to manage anxiety. The patient wears a VR headset and is offered an immersive environment with hypnotic components with sound and imagery in a 3D environment. VR creates an immersive 3D environment and diverts attention away from worrying thoughts (anxiety) and pain and has been found useful to manage minor procedural pain and related anxiety. This is a pilot feasibility trial to evaluate the effectiveness of VR in improving patient related outcomes (PROM) after joint replacement surgery.