Effects of Virtual Reality as an Adjunctive to Transverse Friction Massage in Pediatric Burn Patients

A burn injury is damage to the skin or other body parts caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, radiation, or friction.Pain or discomfort, redness and swelling, blistering, peeling skin, scarring , difficulty breathing, shock in cases of severe burn, fever as a complication of burn, anxiety and depression are some main signs and symptoms after burn injuries. Upper limb burn injuries are more common as compared to lower limb , trunk or head and neck. Physical therapy plays an important role in reducing pain and improving range of motion and prevention of contractures formation after burn injuries.

Virtual Reality training (VR) uses a computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional environment that can be interacted with in a seemingly real or physical way. In the context of burn injuries, VR can be used as a distraction technique during wound care procedures or as an adjunct to pain management, and reduction of anxiety level.

Transverse friction massage Therapy is a Cyriax technique , is applied by the fingers directly to the lesion and transverse to the direction of fibers.Pressure is applied with the ball of the practitioners thumb or fingers to the patient's skin or muscles. Friction massage applied correctly will quickly result in analgesic effect over the treated area. Friction prevents the adhesion formations as a result leads to improvement of range of motion , prevention of contractures formation as well as pain relief.