How virtual reality is used in rehabilitation

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Virtual reality’s ability to simulate environments may play a role in rehabilitating patients with neurological issues. According to a study made by a team of medical researchers based in Singapore, VR can help patients suffering from balance and gait problems by helping them rehabilitate fine motor skills in these key areas.

The study focused on a group of 167 patients over three years using a wide array of virtual reality headsets and environments. Aside from balance and gait, the medical practitioners tested the patients for key areas in terms of movement like cognitive dual task load balance confidence. The researchers did not lump any of the patients into groups, but they commonly suffered from Parkinson’s Disease, post-stroke disorder, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis.

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After using many of the devices to give each patient a tailored treatment using virtual reality therapy, the researchers reported positive results. According to their findings, the patients developed better balance confidence, limited their dual task cost while walking, and improved their balance and gait. Although this is no indication that long-term VR treatment may provide patients with better benefits, the results bode well for this type of therapy and for patients with these kinds of issues.

As such, the researchers advise that VR therapy be used as one of the clinical approaches for treating these motor issues. Here’s hoping that more and more clinics and hospitals adopt this new technology.

Dr. Curtis Cripeis currently working in a White House-NASA committee during the pandemic. His committee has been asked to spearhead long-term and on-going TeleHealth and TeleMedicine protocols and procedures that can be followed during the current and future Pandemics as well as TeleMedicine and TeleHealth even after the COVID-19 diminishes. Dr. Curtis Cripe is a brain development expert and a former engineer at NASA.