Digital Health:
Recreational Therapy (RT) Treatment Technique
Virtual Reality (VR)
About Virtual Reality Therapy
What is Virtual Reality Therapy?
- Virtual Reality Therapy integrates virtual reality immersion experiences for the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of psychological and physical health conditions.
How May Recreational Therapy (RT) Help Me Using Virtual Reality Treatment Technique?
View Educational Video from Hamilton Health Sciences hospitals in Canada:
How We Provide Virtual Reality Therapy
- Inclusion Therapies integrates gaming and virtual reality technology utilizing AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHZ + AMD RX 580 8 GB graphics card on a 30" FHD Ultrawide 21:9 2560x1080p 200Hz refresh rate curved gaming monitor, the Oculus/ Meta Quest 1 and 2 headsets (and Playstation 5).
- Virtual reality therapy sessions are at our Lake Travis Center for Therapeutic Recreation Technology (CTRT) or online inside a private setting within a virtual world (if the client has the requisite hardware and software).
- During in-person sessions, the therapist team will attach the head mounted display and the hand held controllers (and assist client with calibration).
- The client and Recreational Therapist will select a Virtual Reality (VR) experience relating to their healthcare outcomes. For example, someone with a fear of heights may select to ride a roller coaster to be exposed to a situation mimicking heights while they are aware that they are standing (or sitting) safe on the ground. Someone who is engaged in physical rehabilitation and previously loved to climb mountains may select mountain climbing.
- During in-person sessions, the therapist team will be physically next to client (to ensure safety) and will also be verbally guiding the client during the VR session (as the computer monitor shows the virtual world that client is immersed within).
- During each VR therapy session the client will be engaged in VR and then have a debriefing session (to talk about the VR sensations and reactions).
Evidence
for gait balance rehabilitation in post-stroke patients, with repercussions on the reduction of falls."
- Erika Pedreira da Fonseca, Nildo Manoel Ribeiro da Silva, Elen Beatriz Pinto, Therapeutic Effect of Virtual Reality on Post-Stroke Patients Randomized Clinical Trial, Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Volume 26, Issue 1, 2017, Pages 94-100, ISSN 1052-3057, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2016.08.035.
- " Virtual reality (VR) exposure therapy is also proving to be highly effective [for treating phobias]. "
- - Garcia-Palacios, Azucena & Hoffman, Hunter & Kwong See, Sheree & Tsai, Amy & Botella, Cristina. (2001). Redefining Therapeutic Success with Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy. Cyberpsychology & behavior : the impact of the Internet, multimedia and virtual reality on behavior and society. 4. 341-8. 10.1089/109493101300210231.
- "VR aims to parallel reality and create a world that is both immersive and interactive" - Maples-Keller, J. L., Bunnell, B. E., Kim, S. J., & Rothbaum, B. O. (2017). The Use of Virtual Reality Technology in the Treatment of Anxiety and Other Psychiatric Disorders. Harvard review of psychiatry, 25(3), 103–113. https://doi.org/10.1097/HRP.0000000000000138
- "VR has potential benefits for children with CP. " - Laurie Snider, Annette Majnemer & Vasiliki Darsaklis (2010) Virtual reality as a therapeutic modality for children with cerebral palsy, Developmental Neurorehabilitation, 13:2, 120-128, DOI:10.3109/17518420903357753
VR allows for controlled delivery of sensory stimulation via the therapist and is a convenient and cost-effective treatment." [emphasis added].
- Maples-Keller, J. L., Bunnell, B. E., Kim, S. J., & Rothbaum, B. O. (2017). The Use of Virtual Reality Technology in the Treatment of Anxiety and Other Psychiatric Disorders. Harvard review of psychiatry, 25(3), 103–113. https://doi.org/10.1097/HRP.0000000000000138
