Study finds games take the pain away
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Jan 27th 2006 at 2:45PM }
According to a study conducted at
Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia, playing certain types of video games can reduce the experience of pain.
The findings of the "Effects of Video Game Play Types on Pain Threshold and Tolerance" study suggest that
sports and fighting games most effectively distract patients from physical pain.Additionally, the study found that sports games elicited the most anger from players, while a boxing game generating the greatest physical response. Both arcade and boxing games were found to be the most frustrating. The study concluded that video games could be used to distract patients undergoing painful procedures that do not call for anesthesia. Video games could also be used in waiting rooms to reduce patients' anxieties.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Plastikloser @ Jan 27th 2006 2:56PM
One hour on "Pain Killer" and I always feel better, no surprise to me.
AkumaATR @ Jan 27th 2006 3:01PM
I used to imagine playing through Rez in my mind while in the dentist's chair to distract myself from what was going on. No joke.
Jesse @ Jan 27th 2006 3:14PM
I doubt this has anything to do with video games themselves. Simply the video games create a distraction for the person and when playing a competitive game like said sports games the body will obviously create various chemicals that it does when doing any other competitive activity.
Woo, that was a long sentence.
Jose @ Jan 27th 2006 3:17PM
This news is fairly old. I'm not sure if I read it in the BBC or way back in the day when I still read msnbc.
z @ Jan 27th 2006 3:23PM
I totally agree. I was in and out of the hospital for the last 2 years because of a rare bowel disease. I underwent 3 surgeries and had to deal with some sever pain. About half way through my hospital stay They found I have adverse effects that only made the bowel disease worse so I was not allowed to take them any longer. Fortunately, there was an Xbox. It is amazing how much it actually helped with the pain and the depression. I owe a lot to Morrowind and KoTOR among other games.
Dignan17 @ Jan 27th 2006 3:27PM
This is a story that the Penney Arcade guys should use when advertising Childs Play.
LunarDuality @ Jan 27th 2006 3:36PM
You already profiled a similar story centered around Gameboys. See: http://www.joystiq.com/2005/03/04/virtual-reality-to-kill-the-pain/
I think it is about distraction and how the intense concentration on the game prevents the body from tensing and fearing the pain (and thus increasing the likelihood for pain).
Jameyt @ Jan 27th 2006 3:52PM
Must . .. get . . . Halo2 . . . fix . . . now . . .
Jameyt @ Jan 27th 2006 4:09PM
Must . .. get . . . Halo2 . . . fix . . . now . . .
riffgod @ Jan 27th 2006 5:51PM
I believe this. It's alot like that episode of Grey's Anatomy where the guy was watching porn because he was allergic to pretty much all forms of pain killer.
Video game would have the same effect releasing "happy chemicals" also it would occupy the mind. I know a few weeks back I was severely hung over and playing Dragon Quest VIII was the only thing keeping me from throwing up.
Jago @ Jan 27th 2006 7:01PM
That's 100% true...but Child's Play is not the only group that helps to get donations for hospitals tho.
There is another foundation call the Get Well Gamers Foundation:
http://www.get-well-gamers.org/
They take donations from anyone (I've donated to them). They take games, accessories, systems, etc. clean them up and make them sanitary and donate them to the pediatric departments of hosptials for kids to play while they are either in recovery or waiting for surgery.