![]() Those given the real thing had mixed feelings. Two of the three placebo testers felt nothing out of the norm, while one remarked he thought the band “might be working,” but wasn’t sure. ![]() Three were given a placebo band, rather than the real thing, and not told about the electrical shocks (the absence of which would, otherwise, make the placebo obvious). Some had previous VR experience, and some did not. So, did the band work?Įight staffers tested the band. A minor electrical prodding isn’t so bad next to the nausea, headaches, and vertigo a serious case of motion sickness can cause. Of course, some twitching and discomfort might be acceptable if the band works. There’s no reason to think the band would cause harm, but the fact users were worried says a lot about how discomforting the shocks can be. One tester saw a more dramatic effect, as the pulses caused a temporary twitch in his middle finger that he could not control – amusing, but also a bit unsettling, and not something you’d want to have happen while playing a VR game.Įveryone who used the Reliefband found the sensation uncomfortable, and some testers expressed concern about the long-term effects. For most, it was like the tingle you’d feel if your hand was “falling asleep” because you’d rested at an odd angle. There’s no wireless connectivity, no smartphone app, not even a rechargeable internal battery (it uses a watch battery instead). On the opposite side is a pair of contacts that administer its moderated electrocution. The face is a power button surrounded by five LEDs that indicate the strength of the shocks you’re receiving. Small, round, and lightweight, the band is utilitarian in design and function. The band has a “weird science” vibe that’s amplified ten-fold the moment you put the device on. That means the device is “substantially equivalent to another legally marketed device,” but the FDA hasn’t tested the Reliefband specifically. While some trials found the Reliefband (or Relief Band, as it’s usually called in studies) to be effective treating nausea during post-surgery recovery, and some cases of morning sickness, other studies failed to uncover a statistically significant effect on nausea caused by chemotherapy or motion sickness.Īnd though the device has been examined by the FDA, it’s only FDA-cleared, not FDA-approved. The band’s clinical trials do little to settle the matter. That will reassure some readers – and cause others to scoff. The popular Sea-Band stimulates the same point, but it does not apply an electric pulse, and instead claims to work merely through pressure. ![]() The band applies tiny electrical pulses that allegedly “modulate the neural pathways between the brain and the stomach, via the vagus nerve.” It builds on the study of acupuncture, specifically the stimulation of Pericardium 6, a pressure point located on the wrist. Reliefband uses a technique called “neuromodulation,” which involves stimulating the nervous system to regulate sickness. Since then it has undergone revisions, but the basic concept is the same. The band was first cleared for use by the FDA in 1999, when it was sold by a company called Woodside Biomedical. The pivot towards marketing Reliefband as an aid for VR motion sickness is a marketing tactic, not a reflection of all-new technology. Does it work, or is it wishful thinking? Nothing new The company’s wrist-mounted device can allegedly shock users into a more comfortable experience. Pimax 8K X hands-on review: Long-awaited 8K VR headset is here, and it’s awesomeīut what if there’s a way to fix the problem? That’s exactly what Reliefband Technologies, maker of the Reliefband, says it has.
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