Reading 06

Benefits of VR/AR Technologies:

The main benefits of using VR/AR Technologies is that of the freedom they provide. By this I mean in terms of how many vastly different ways the technology can be used depending on the patients need's. So for example say someone cant travel very far they can get their VR/AR rehab set up in their home instead which will send feedback back to the doctors computer for analysis and progress tracking.(Rua M. Williams)

Limitations, Gaps & Weaknesses:

when it comes to patients carrying out the rehabilitation at home them selves there was a questionnaire carried out by the “Human Factors and Ergonomics Society” that showed that most people either didn’t have the time to actually bring them selves to do the rehab themselves or just wasn’t motivated and saw no need to do it. (Rua M. Williams, Kiana Alikhademi, Emma Drobina, Juan E. Gilbert, Tommy Sutor). As it says on the document. Of those who were against the prescribed rehabilitation plan were asked why they didn’t like it or why they weren’t doing it. Their responses were that they “Forgot to do the exercises” & “Forgot how to do the exercises” (Listed under “Findings” section of the document)

Results:

Some patients have reportedly experienced “Improved aerobic function and physical activity” (Vicente-Rodriguez). The studies used either VR alone or VR paired with other therapies. 15 applied treatments with only VR, while 10 combined VR with occupational therapy and physiotherapy or conventional therapy. Despite different types of VR devices used in the studies most of the protocols used the games to provide stimuli that encourage movements to improve motor function, balance, aerobic function, and pain. So as you can tell there is quite a wide range of rehabilitation that one person may need. Every case can be vastly different from one another.

Significance:

From the studies carried out by the “Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation” (Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation volume).

We can safely say that using VR/AR technologies as a form of rehabilitation can prove successful with the correct determination and measures in place. Most patients that have stuck to their rehab plans have seen great results especially in the areas of day-to-day life tasks in a simulated controlled environment. One thing to point out however is that typically older patients prefer the traditional methods of rehabilitation to the virtual reality methods. This can just come down the fact that maybe they aren’t as used to technology as younger generations but its great to have the technology available today to assist anyone in multiple different ways.

Strengths:

Its fair to say that VR/AR Technologies have definitely proven them selves as being a worthy rehabilitation method to continue going and developing forward in the future. It has its pros especially with helping with upper limb rehabilitation mainly with say patients of strokes but also all over areas of disabilities. As mentioned before one major bonus to using these advanced technologies is how adaptable they can be made to one’s personal situation. For example, one patient might live in a very rural area, and it isn’t feasible to travel say 2 hours 3 times a week to a clinic for their sessions. So instead, the technology allows for them to simply do their rehab at home or where they please. While also sending a very in debt report to the acting doctor of the patient. (Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation volume)

Conclusion:

My conclusion on VR/AR Technologies being used for rehabilitation purposes is this. I think that its a great idea and its amazing that its been going on some 20+ years and will continue to improve as technology develops. What I really like about it is, how well adaptable it all is depending on the patients needs. The freedom to have a clinic set up somewhere, or simply having a setup in the patients house even. Aswell as that the technology allows for fully unique scenarios depending on the patients needs. So this can help a lot if some clinics might not be able to "Physically" cater to all patients.

Bibliography

Joural of Clinical Medicine. "Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Gamification, and Telerehabilitation: Psychological Impact on Orthopedic Patients’ Rehabilitation ." (2020): 13. Online PDF.

Rua M. Williams, Kiana Alikhademi, Emma Drobina, Juan E. Gilbert, Tommy Sutor. "Augmented Reality for Rehabilitative Therapy: Patient experiences and Practitioner perspectives ." 20 November 2019. Sage Journals. Online PDF. 25 February 2021.

Oculus.com. Oculus.com. 09 March 2022. Online Website. 01 March 2022.

Rua M. Williams, Kiana Alikhademi, Emma Drobina, Juan E. Gilbert, Tommy Sutor. Sage Journals. 20 November 2019. Online PDF. 01 March 2022.

Vicente-Rodriguez, Germán. Assistive Technology Innovations in Neurological Conditions. 2019. Online Webpage. 01 March 2022.

Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation volume. Virtual reality for the rehabilitation of the upper limb motor function after stroke: a prospective controlled trial. 2013. Online Webpage. 02 March 2022.

 

 

Online Picture of a VR Headset - Link: