Virtual Reality Intervention in Patients With Persistent Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain is very common and can make daily activities difficult. Many people have shoulder pain for a long time, even after treatment. Common shoulder problems include pain from the shoulder muscles and tendons, a frozen shoulder, or an unstable shoulder. Unfortunately, both surgery and physiotherapy often help only a little. This can be due to many reasons, such as people not continuing their exercises, fear of moving the shoulder, incorrect beliefs about pain, other health problems, or lifestyle factors. Virtual Reality (VR) is a new and promising technology that is already being used to help people with long-lasting pain. By using a VR headset, people can exercise in a motivating and engaging virtual environment. VR may help reduce fear of movement, improve how people feel about their body, make movement easier, and help people stick to their exercises. However, there is still very little research on using VR for long-lasting shoulder pain. The goal of this study is to find out whether a home-based VR exercise program for people with ongoing shoulder complaints is practical and acceptable. The investigators want to know if people are willing and able to use VR at home, whether they continue the treatment, and whether it shows early signs of reducing pain and limitations. They also want to understand who benefits most from VR, in which situations it works best, and why it may or may not help. People aged 16 years and older who have had shoulder pain and limitations for more than three months can take part. This includes people with shoulder tendon-related pain, frozen shoulder, or shoulder instability. The study lasts six weeks and includes three parts. First, participants receive online educational videos about shoulder pain and movement. Second, they take part in three physiotherapy sessions: one in person and two online. Third, participants use a VR headset at home every day for about 15 minutes to perform guided shoulder and whole-body exercises, such