How is virtual reality used for therapy for people with physical disabilities

How is virtual reality used for therapy for people with physical disabilities

Virtual reality gives us the feeling of being somewhere else, and after an debilitating injury that is where most people want to be. Physical therapy can often be very painful and boring for patients as they need to repeat the same motions again and again to get regain their lost mobility. With recent improvements in virtual reality technology many physical therapy patients are able to play games and rehabilitate themselves at the same time.

Cerebral Palsy is a condition which affects movement and posture which sometimes can lead to the inability to walk. Some way to combat this disease is through strengthening the legs and abdominal muscles to make patients legs strong enough to walk and stay balanced. The normal physical therapy for this condition is strengthening and other movements to can strength in the necessary muscles, but you can only do this for so long before it is too painful and boring. Using virtual reality patients are put into a world where they are a goalie and have to stop soccer balls, or into the ocean to swim with fish. They distraction of the world around them keeps their mind off of the pain and prevents boredom. (http://www.wral.com/lifestyles/healthteam/story/1826142/)


Changing the dressing's on a burn victim's wound can be almost unbearable to the point of where the patient needs to be sedated. This would leave the patient unable to function for the remainder of the day. At the Emory University's School of Medicine in Atlanta therapists are trying some new techniques to numb the pain using virtual reality. Normally, a patient having their dressing changed only has the comforting words of the physical therapist, but with the virtual game they created called “SnowWorld” they are able to move, interact and hear what is going on in the virtual world. Numerous patients have been treated using this method and have noticed that with the virtual reality they barely notice the pain. (http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,120028-page,1/article.html)


A stroke can be one of the more devastating events that can occur to yourself or a family member. If one is fortunate enough to live through a stroke they will still have to live with the horrible after effects. Some of these effects include loss of hearing, impaired speech, and the loss of motor functions in one side of the body; which will result in the inability to walk. Recently recently researchers at the American Hearth Association is Dallas have been working on using Virtual Reality to try and reorganize brain functions, so stoke victims may regain some of their lost motor skills. To do this researchers have had recent stroke victims undergo a series of different Virtual Reality exercises. The goal of these activities is to enhance motor skills related to: hip flexion / extension, weight shifting, stepping up and down, balance, jumping, and squatting down. There has not been any studies comparing the effectiveness to traditional physical therapy; however, therapists have noticed that patients are more motivated and compliant when under going the virtual reality therapy. The patients themselves have also been seeing the benefits of the therapy. Most have gained enough confidence in the affected limb to do tasks we take for granted, such as: Getting in and out of the tub, put on pants, and stepping off of a curb. These are great advances for many patients according to the researchers. (http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3030766)

After a crippling injury, many people are looking to get back to the lives they once had. However, the road to recovery is often hard, long and painful, but with advances in Virtual Reality many patients can have an optimistic outlook on their therapy. Whether it's strengthening muscles, improving balance, or just a distraction from the pain Virtual Reality will help physical therapy patients for years to come.