What is your take on " Virtual Reality " in rehabilitation Engineering?

VR applications in rehabilitation

• Sensory impairments

• Physical impairments

• Cognitive and behavioral impairments

• Orthopedic and mobility impairments.

Physical interactions with environments that are

partially or wholly computer-generated allow a

person to focus on a particular aspect of

functional recovery without exposure to

potentially dangerous situations.For example, practicing stepping over virtual

obstacles during harnessed treadmill walking is

safer than stepping over blocks in the clinic

while aided by a therapist. As proficiency,

coordination, and strength improve, the more

complex realities of real-world situations can be

attempted with increased confidence.

Virtual Reality (VR) has recently emerged as a valid addition to conventional therapy by incorporating rehabilitation strategies in a novel and low-cost approach .VR-based

therapy can provide a positive learning experience, and be engaging and motivating.

With VR-based therapy, tasks can be tailored to the patients’ needs, with imitation or video-game like activities. Virtual environments can be customized by designing tasks that fit the individual’s cognitive and physical impairments, which is critical in maximizing brain reorganization and reactivating those brain areas involved in motor planning, learning, and execution, as well as in maintaining engagement.

VR mediated therapy has also yielded significant improvements in gait rehabilitation following a stroke. Additional biosensors such as Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), force sensors, and EMG sensors are also used to track progress in the patients’ kinematics, movement dynamics, and muscle activation. Real-time visualization of these parameters allows therapists to provide patients with timely feedback on the progress and quality of tasks they perform, giving them the opportunity to understand and correct possible mistakes.

Furthermore, the adjustable practice and customizable environments enable therapists to design dual tasks and unexpected situations, so that patients can relearn to adapt to environmental changes while walking. Results have shown that VR-trained patients can more effectively increase their gait speed as demanded by the task when compared to patients that underwent traditional rehabilitation. With practice, they can better adapt their gait with respect to the change in the surrounding environment.

Advantage

The advantage of virtual reality is that the possibilities are essentially endless.

Virtual Reality in education field makes education more easily and comfort.

Virtual Reality user can experiment with an artificial environment.

Disadvantage

Virtual Reality user can experiment with an artificial environment.

Escapism is common place among those that use VR environments and people often live in the virtual world instead of dealing with the real one.