Virtual Rehabilitation - Benefits and Challenges^[1]

Abstract:

Virtual rehabilitation represents the provision of therapeutic interventions locally or at a distance, using Virtual Reality hardware and simulations. Such therapy has been applied to various patient populations, including musculo-skeletal, post-stroke, and cognitively- impaired. This article reviews the benefits brought by VR-enhanced and VR-based rehabilitation to the above patient groups. Also discussed are the many challenges in integrating this new technology into the medical care system.

 

¹ Based on the Key note address with the same title given at the 1^st International Workshop on Virtual Rehabilitation, Lausanne, Switzerland, November 7-8, 2002. © Grigore Burdea

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