When virtual reality headsets emerged in the gaming world, we created a futuristic escape into games we'd never thought would happen. While VR is still very prevalent in gaming and entertainment parks, it's also growing in popularity in the medical world.
Virtual reality rehabilitation is an up-and-coming treatment for people struggling with motor skills, either after an accident or a medical emergency like a stroke.
It allows the patient to use other sensory stimuli to improve motor skills while also allowing the treatment team to track their progress to create an optimal treatment program specific to each patient's needs.
Dr. Bryn J. Henderson and Dr. John S. Farag are excited to offer VR rehabilitation at their Regenerative Medical Group practice in Orange, California.
Dr. Henderson and Dr. Farag are primary care and regenerative medicine specialists who provide the latest technology and treatments for superb medical outcomes.
Virtual reality rehabilitation is a treatment we use for people with fine and gross motor deficits. People with motor problems may have trouble sitting, walking, or picking things up after something like a stroke.
To perform these motor skills, your body and brain must interact and communicate for precise movements. These movements are complex after an injury to the brain or spinal cord or in people living with cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis.
The VR system provides a creative and fun environment while performing physical therapy. It offers sensory technology and virtual reality, allowing you to manipulate your limbs and body to experience movement differently.
We can use the VR system on various aspects of your body to increase strength, range of motion, and coordination. Some of the uses we have for the VR rehabilitation system include:
The VR system has endless benefits, including keeping you interested in your rehabilitation program. It also allows us to see your progress in real-time to make tweaks to your treatment plan for optimal outcomes.
Before you begin VR rehabilitation, our team meets to discuss your goals and make a customized treatment plan. We then schedule you for your VR sessions to begin treatment.
The type of VR rehabilitation you require depends on what part of your body has been affected and the severity of your injury or disorder. We can program the VR headset and sensory devices to work on your arms, legs, core, cognition, and overall strength and balance to create a customized approach to motor rehab.
During the VR rehab sessions, you wear a headpiece that sits on your head and covers your eyes. You'll be able to see the screen, fully immersing yourself in the virtual reality environment.
We may also attach sensory pieces to your arms, legs, upper body, and core to help you see your progress during each training session.
During a VR rehabilitation session, a physical therapy team member is always with you to ensure your safety and help you navigate the system.
We can engage you in rewarding games and activities that engage your mind and body as you work toward a motor or sensory goal.
We can work on the same games or different activities at each session to see your progression through therapy.
After each VR rehabilitation session, we discuss your progress and show you real-time progress reports. We may also use traditional physical therapy along with VR rehabilitation to speed up your recovery.
We also discuss your next appointment and the new goals for each session. You can ask the team any questions you'd like and discuss what your next focus should be.
Depending on your individual goals and your progress, we may have you come back several times a week for therapy or only a few times a month.
With each passing appointment, you should see a change in your motor and sensory skills. It's a fun way to stay interested in treatment while significantly enhancing your strength, balance, and movement and training your brain to talk to your body.
It could take a few months to see noticeable results, depending on what we're treating and how severe your condition is at the time of treatment.
If you want to learn more about how VR rehabilitation can help you, don't hesitate to call the Regenerative Medical Group today or request a consultation on the website.
