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Neuro Rehab VR: Interdisciplinary Neurorehabilitation (Physical, Occupational & Recreational) Therapy and Spinal Cord Injury & Disorder (SCI/D)
Share PrintThis virtual reality (VR) program uses NeuroRehab VR’s XR Reality Therapy System to assist spinal cord injury & disorder (sci/d) rehabilitation, as a supplement to physical, occupational and recreational therapies. It offers a range of activities that mimic real-life situations to challenge patients both physically and psychologically. The intervention shows promising results, including improved balance, reduced anxiety and pain and increased patient motivation. The program’s flexibility enables therapists to tailor treatments to each patient’s specific interests and needs, enhancing their engagement.
Origin:
February 2018, Charlie Norwood Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Augusta Downtown)
Adoptions:
2 successful
Recent Updates
Overview
Problem
Individuals with spinal cord injuries and/or disorders (SCI/D) suffer from an array of physical and psychological symptoms, impacting their quality of life and rehabilitation potential. Traditional rehabilitation methods can be monotonous and limited, especially for long-term hospital residents or those unable to leave their beds due to physical restrictions
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Individuals with spinal cord injuries and/or disorders (SCI/D) suffer from an array of physical and psychological symptoms, impacting their quality of life and rehabilitation potential. Traditional rehabilitation methods can be monotonous and limited, especially for long-term hospital residents or those unable to leave their beds due to physical restrictions. In such cases, motivation and engagement in therapy often decrease, limiting the effectiveness of rehabilitation.
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Solution
The program leverages VR to enhance traditional therapies, making them more interactive, engaging and reflective of real-life scenarios. VR offers various experiences tailored to the patients' specific interests and abilities, engaging the patient and maximizing efficacy.
The VR system brings the user into multiple interactive environments and provides Vete ... The program leverages VR to enhance traditional therapies, making them more interactive, engaging and reflective of real-life scenarios. VR offers various experiences tailored to the patients' specific interests and abilities, engaging the patient and maximizing efficacy.
The VR system brings the user into multiple interactive environments and provides Veterans and providers with treatment flexibility, allowing the provider to adjust the rehabilitation treatment plan to meet the Veteran where they are in their recovery. Through VR, providers can address two things at once: A patient’s anxiety (through “relaxation mode”) and functional treatments, such as the standing frame. See more
The VR system brings the user into multiple interactive environments and provides Vete ... The program leverages VR to enhance traditional therapies, making them more interactive, engaging and reflective of real-life scenarios. VR offers various experiences tailored to the patients' specific interests and abilities, engaging the patient and maximizing efficacy.
The VR system brings the user into multiple interactive environments and provides Veterans and providers with treatment flexibility, allowing the provider to adjust the rehabilitation treatment plan to meet the Veteran where they are in their recovery. Through VR, providers can address two things at once: A patient’s anxiety (through “relaxation mode”) and functional treatments, such as the standing frame. See more
Results
The VR-based rehabilitation project shows promising results. It demonstrated a reduction in blood pressure, stress, anxiety and pain scores in patients. The program has also been successful in improving patients' sitting balance, standing tolerance and overall motivation to participate in therapy. Furthermore, it helps to reduce symptoms of autonomic dysrefl
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The VR-based rehabilitation project shows promising results. It demonstrated a reduction in blood pressure, stress, anxiety and pain scores in patients. The program has also been successful in improving patients' sitting balance, standing tolerance and overall motivation to participate in therapy. Furthermore, it helps to reduce symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia in bedridden patients, making it a potent tool for enhancing therapeutic interventions. However, more evidence-based data is needed with further planned studies.
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Metrics
- Duration of VR Sessions
- Patient Engagement
- Pain and Anxiety Reduction
- Physical Improvements
- Reduction in symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia
Diffusion tracker
Does not include Clinical Resource Hubs (CRH)
Implementation
Optional Resources
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About
Origin story
As an occupational therapist with the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center (CNVAMC) in Augusta, GA, Amy Josey sought unconventional ways to assist Veterans with their rehabilitation. As VR made its way into health care spaces as viable treatment options for patients, Amy, who had a long-standing interest in utilizing gaming technology for patient care, found he
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As an occupational therapist with the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center (CNVAMC) in Augusta, GA, Amy Josey sought unconventional ways to assist Veterans with their rehabilitation. As VR made its way into health care spaces as viable treatment options for patients, Amy, who had a long-standing interest in utilizing gaming technology for patient care, found herself at the forefront of VR’s clinical applications.
Since 2015, Amy has purposefully found new ways to incorporate VR technology into her treatment plans for Veterans. She noted numerous opportunities to enhance the Veteran care experience with VR when she observed VR’s efficacy for their treatment. Amy started her work with Level Up, a center that created VR simulations for individuals with physical limitations, to treat Veterans with spinal cord injuries. She took Veterans on a visit to Level Up gaming in Augusta, GA that would define the course of her VR work.
During that visit to Level Up the Veterans felt more motivated during sessions, gained improvements in their treatment scores and loved the flexibility of using the headsets. Notably, they felt that they improved after each session. Amy knew she was on a positive track with her research, and this visit further inspired her interests.
After Level Up and a series of introductions, Amy met Veena Somareddy, chief executive officer of NeuroRehabVR, a VR rehabilitation therapy organization. Due to their shared interest in VR’s clinical applications, Somareddy donated the equipment and programming behind NeuroRehabVR to the CNVAMC where Amy worked. As a result, Amy and her team were able to better understand the ways to use VR tools for patient care and incorporate NeuroRehabVR’s technology into their own treatments for patients. The team would use the donated tools and even headsets that Amy purchased to solicit feedback from patients during their rehabilitation sessions. Amy went on to present her findings at the national community of practice forum, and after this presentation, the innovation was adopted at another VA medical center, the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans' Hospital-South Texas VA Healthcare System (STVHCS).
At STVHCS, Dr. Divya Singhal, chief of spinal cord service at STVHCS, in collaboration with Ms. Erin Dixon, chief of recreation therapy at STVHCS, and Ms. Cheryl Kelley, Certified Therapeutic Recreational Specialist initiated the VR rehabilitation project during the COVID-19 pandemic when many were feeling isolated. The idea arose from the concept of "distraction therapy,” which aims to alleviate pain and anxiety in long-term hospitalized patients. After attending the VA Immersive Summit in June 2023, what started as a recreational VR project to break the monotony of hospital life, expanded to include rehabilitation goals, integrating VR into the routine physical therapy regimen.
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