Virtual Reality Rehabilitation - The Future of Physical Therapy

Think about reaching for an object. It feels like a simple process, yet in reality it’s a complex act. This action relies on a combination of motor acts that are processed at many different levels in the brain and body. For people with motor impairments following neurological injury, what looks to be an everyday task like eating, typing an email, reading a book, can become a challenge.

Neurological impairments may affect any part of the body. One of the most common examples is the impact on lower limb motor functions, leading to walking limitations and participation restrictions in daily life activities. The ability to perform additional motor and cognitive tasks during walking is highly affected and with it, the ability to adjust to the surrounding environment, while for instance crossing the street or stepping over an obstacle.

There are many parts of the central and peripheral nervous system involved in these processes and when one part is damaged, recovery of these motor abilities is often a cumbersome and slow process. Several strategies for recovery have been explored, including intensive rehabilitation [1], repetitive motor training [2], and mirror therapy [3], among others. Below, we will talk about the next approach.