Background: Cervical Radiculopathy (CR) is a condition resulting from the compression or irritation of a nerve in the cervical spine, usually due to degenerative changes or disc herniation. The condition is characterized by pain extending into the arms, along with weakness, numbness, and disability. Conservative treatments include physical therapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), epidural steroid injections, and, in extreme situations, surgery. Virtual reality is an emerging technology that has demonstrated promise as a treatment method for several musculoskeletal conditions, including chronic neck pain.  This study aims to assess the effects of virtual reality rehabilitation on pain and disability in cervical radiculopathy among computer users.

Objective: To determine the effects of virtual reality rehabilitation on pain and disability in cervical radiculopathy among computer users.

Methodology: This study was a quasi-experimental study design, and a non-probability convenience sampling technique was used. A total of 40 participants were included in this study. Participants with age of 18-60 years, both genders with cervical radiculopathy diagnosed and confirmed by clinical assessment and imaging studies (MRI or CT) showing compression of cervical nerve roots (C5, C6, or C7) with symptoms of neck pain, radiating arm pain, numbness, or weakness were included in the study. The NDI assessed the degree of disability resulting from cervical radiculopathy on daily activities.  The NPRS was used to assess the pain intensity level before and after treatment. Data was collected at only two clinical settings in Lahore, Pakistan. Participants who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in this study who gave written consent. The study was done in 6 months, and data was assessed before and after treatment of 6 weeks. The data was analyzed by using SPSS, version 25.

Results: There were 40 participants with a mean age of 35+7.85. There were 21 males and 19 females included in this study; 30 were married, and 10 were unmarried. The majority of participants worked a maximum of 8 hours a day, and the maximum participants had work experience of 3 years. There were 17 participants with moderate and 23 with severe levels of pain intensity at the baseline. The Shapiro-Wilk test results for neck pain and disability were 0.000 and 0.188, respectively. The Wilcoxon signed rank test p-value for comparing pre-post NPRS values was less than 0.05, indicating changes that were highly statistically significant. The paired sample t-test p-value for comparing pre-post values of NDI was likewise less than 0.05, demonstrating highly statistically significant changes over time and suggesting potential effects of VR on pain and disability in individuals with cervical radiculopathy.

Conclusion: It is concluded that virtual reality rehabilitation has significant effects on reducing pain and improving the disability in cervical radiculopathy among computer users. The interactive nature of VR encourages active participation, which may lead to better adherence to rehabilitation protocols compared to traditional methods.

Key words: Cervical radiculopathy, disability, pain, virtual reality