For Injured Workers:
A New Reality in Pain Relief
Discover how the FDA-authorized RelieVRx® program offers a non pharmacologic alternative to chronic lower back pain (CLBP) management.1
Contact Usthe first FDA-authorized Virtual Reality (VR) treatment for CLBP1
A single course of treatment delivers lasting relief of CLBP2,3
Study participants reported their pain levels on a scale from 0 to 10, using the DOD/VA Pain Scale. The values in parentheses are the mean reductions in pain ratings on this scale from baseline to the specified endpoints.
Explore Clinical Data
Back pain is the leading cause of work limitations and lost productivity among adults ages 18-644
Additionally, those with CLBP are at a significantly higher risk — nearly 2-3 times more—of encountering moderate to severe depression and sleep disruptions5-8.
In-home, self-guided therapeutic program which teaches skills and develops habits to help better control pain2
The 56-session curriculum includes:
Incorporates cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other proven pain management techniques2
Mindful
Escapes
Pain
Education
Diaphragmatic
Breathing
Relaxation/
Interoceptive
National guidelines acknowledge the crucial role of CBT in the management of chronic pain and recommend its utilization as a primary intervention.9 The in-home RelieVRx program offers convenient access to CBT and other pain management techniques.1
Effective regardless of injured worker demographics, comorbidities, or treatment history.2,10
Delivers effective pain management Without the Risk of significant side effects2,10
No Unanticipated Adverse Device Effects (UADE) or Serious Adverse Events were observed or reported in our pivotal clinical study.2
In a later study of more than 1000 participants, 1 patient reported a serious adverse event (dizziness).10
INJURED WORKER PROGRAM EXPERIENCE
Rooted in Science, Proven in Practice
Developed in partnership with Beth Darnall, PhD a prominent figure in pain management and behavioral medicine.
Employing a biopsychosocial approach, the RelieVRx program integrates established cognitive behavioral therapy principles within an immersive environment, leading to significant and meaningful results.
The sequential therapeutic program promotes neuroplasticity, which helps modify regions of the brain associated with pain and delivers enduring benefit.
“
The way that we enhance learning with this product is that we target all of these different pathways: sensory, emotional, cognitive. It’s full brain engagement for enhanced learning.”
- Dr. Beth Darnall
Delivers significant pain reduction with both moderate and severe chronic lower back pain
In multiple double-blinded, sham-controlled clinical trials with over 1200 patients, the RelieVRx program demonstrated clinically meaningful reductions in both pain intensity and pain interference.2,10
A reduction of 2 points or more is deemed clinically significant.
Extensively utilized by
Veterans Health Administration
Added to the Federal Supply Schedule in early 2023, the RelieVRx program is used nationwide by the Veterans Health Administration.
Clinical Resource
Center
Explore the scientific evidence garnered from rigorous research and clinical studies.
The RelieVRx Program is Simple, Efficient, and Engaging2,10
The 56 therapeutic sessions have an average duration of 6 minutes.
Easier to use than an ATM
In-home and self-managed
Patients completed an average of 5 sessions per week
A+ satisfaction rating from users
The RelieVRx Program offers a simple user experience
Easy To PrescribeThe prescriber simply submits the Rx form along with the required medical documentation to the AVR Pathway support team.
Ready To UseThe RelieVRx device is delivered directly to the injured workers’ home, ready to use with preloaded content.
Returning The DeviceInjured Workers will return the device in the original packaging using the provided prepaid return shipping label.
The RelieVRx program minimizes injured worker and healthcare provider challenges with traditional CBT which can include the limited availability of trained therapists, travel considerations, stigma, and cost.2
Prescribing
It's easy to start prescribing the RelieVRx program, easy for injured workers to use, and easy for claims representatives to manage. Our prescription kit includes everything needed to get started. The prescriber simply submits the Rx form along with the required medical documentation to AVR Pathway, our support services team, and we will take care of the rest.
Include any medical documentation attachments
Upon claimant coverage verification, the AVR Pathway team ships the device and with easy-to-follow instructions to the injured worker for use.
The AVR Pathway® team provides support for every step of the journey
The AVR Pathway team supports patients as they embark on the RelieVRx journey, serving as the primary point of contact for technical and non-medical questions.
If you are currently a RelieVRx patient and need assistance, please don't hesitate to call or email us
Indication for Use The RelieVRx program is a prescription-use immersive virtual reality system intended to provide adjunctive treatment based on cognitive behavioral therapy skills and other evidence-based behavioral methods for patients (age 18 and older) with a diagnosis of chronic lower back-pain (defined as moderate to severe pain lasting longer than three months). The device is intended for in-home use for the reduction of pain and pain interference associated with chronic lower back pain.
Contraindications
There are no known contraindications.
References
- “Device Classification under Section 513(F)(2)(De Novo).” Accessdata.fda.gov, https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfRL/rl.cfm?lid=764583&lpcd=QRA.
- Garcia LM, Birckhead BJ, Krishnamurthy P, Sackman J, Mackey IG, Louis RG, Salmasi V, Maddox T, Darnall BD. An 8-Week Self-Administered At-Home Behavioral Skills-Based Virtual Reality Program for Chronic Low Back Pain: Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial Conducted During COVID-19. J Med Internet Res. 2021 Feb 22;23(2):e26292.
- Maddox, T., Sparks, C., Oldstone, L., Maddox, R., Ffrench, K., Garcia, H., Krishnamurthy, P., Okhotin, D., Garcia, L., Birckhead, B, Sackman, J., Mackey, I., Louis, R., Salmasi, V., Oyao, A., & Darnall, BD (2023). Durable chronic low back pain reductions to 24-months post-treatment for an accessible, 8-week, in-home behavioral skills-based virtual reality program: A randomized controlled trial. Pain Medicine, in press.
- Gore M, Sadosky A, Stacey BR, Tai KS, Leslie D. The burden of chronic low back pain: clinical comorbidities, treatment patterns, and health care costs in usual care settings. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2012;37(11):E668-E677.
- Yang H, Hurwitz EL, Li J, de Luca K, Tavares P, Green B, Haldeman S. Bidirectional Comorbid Associations between Back Pain and Major Depression in US Adults. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Feb 27;20(5):4217. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20054217. PMID: 36901226; PMCID: PMC10002070.
- Depression and Pain Comorbidity. A Literature Review. Matthew J. Bair, MD, MS; Rebecca L. Robinson, MS; Wayne Katon, MD; et al. Kurt Kroenke, MD. Author Affiliations Article Information. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163(20):2433-2445. doi:10.1001/archinte.163.20.2433
- Uchmanowicz I, Kołtuniuk A, Stępień A, Uchmanowicz B, Rosińczuk J. The influence of sleep disorders on the quality of life in patients with chronic low back pain. Scand J Caring Sci. 2019;33(1):119-127. doi:10.1111/scs.12610
- Marty M, Rozenberg S, Duplan B, Thomas P, Duquesnoy B, Allaert F; Section Rachis de la Société Française de Rhumatologie. Quality of sleep in patients with chronic low back pain: a case-control study. Eur Spine J. 2008 Jun;17(6):839-44. doi: 10.1007/s00586-008-0660-7. Epub 2008 Apr 4. PMID: 18389288; PMCID: PMC2518999.
- Ehde, D. M., Dillworth, T. M., & Turner, J. A. (2014). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for individuals with chronic pain: Efficacy, innovations, and directions for research. American Psychologist, 69(2), 153-166.
- Maddox, T., Oldstone, L., Sparks, C., Sackman, J., Oyao, A., Garcia, L., Maddox, R., Ffrench, K., Garcia, H., Irvin, A., Maislin, D., Keenan, B., Bonakdar, R., & Darnall, BD (2023). At-home virtual reality program for chronic lower back pain: A randomized sham-controlled effectiveness trial in a clinically severe and diverse sample. Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Digital Medicine, 2023;1(4):563-573.