Role of VR and AR in Sports Injury - Prevention and Rehabilitation

Introduction

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) have become popular technologies that create realistic and interactive experiences for users. They can be used in various fields, including healthcare, to provide educational, training, and therapeutic applications. VR aims to make users feel like they're actually in a simulated environment, while AR overlays virtual information in the real world. VR and AR must create a coherent and believable simulation for users to experience positive effects. These technologies have been used in the medical field for surgical training, rehabilitation, and anxiety treatments. However, more research is needed to understand their effectiveness and integrate them into healthcare practices fully.

Additionally, combining VR with touch-based therapies, like massage, could enhance patient care by integrating sensory experiences. Rehabilitation programs focusing on improving balance and walking have shown positive results, but they can be tiring and require specialized facilities and equipment. Hence VR and AR help in that too.

What Are the Different Applications of VR and AR in Critical Care Therapy?

The following content shows how virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in critical care therapy focus on their potential benefits and limitations:

• In terms of patients:

1. Entertainment: VR can be a distraction or entertainment tool during therapy or invasive procedures, providing a positive experience.

2. Treatment: VR shows promise in enhancing the rehabilitation of patients during critical care therapy in the treatment aspect. It can provide a more engaging and interactive experience to aid recovery.

3. Information: VR can be used to educate patients about critical care therapy and provide knowledge before, during, and after intensive care.

• In terms of relatives:

1. Education: VR can be used to educate them about critical care therapy, helping them understand the treatment process.

2. Communication: VR can facilitate communication between healthcare providers and patients through virtual ward rounds, offering a remote connection. AR can also be used during virtual ward rounds to assist healthcare providers.

• In terms of healthcare providers:

1. Education: VR and AR can be used as tools to teach beginners complex critical care subjects.

2. Communication: VR and AR can facilitate communication by enabling virtual ward rounds.

3. Stress: VR can help healthcare providers relax in terms of stress management.

How VR and AR Help in Preventing Sports Injury in Young Athletes?

According to studies, young athletes would benefit the most from advanced sports injury prevention programs and tools. The risk of injuries increases during puberty, a critical time for keeping kids active. Advanced imaging, like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), will gather information about injuries and helps to reach young athletes about the same meaningfully.

Using tools like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the researchers study brain connections and explore ways to reduce the risk of injuries. They also use training programs in AR and VR environments, where athletes receive feedback on their movements and can make corrections to prevent future injuries. It focuses on concussion prevention and finding better ways to determine when it's safe for athletes to return to play after a concussion.

While various sports involve injuries, researchers particularly focus on basketball, volleyball, and soccer due to their higher rates of knee injuries. Soccer players make up a significant portion of being useful in this. The main goal is to merge neuroscience and biomechanics to create better, safer athletes. The ultimate objective is to encourage a love of sports and physical activity by providing a positive, injury-free environment.

How Effective Is VR on Various Rehabilitative Outcomes?

Physiological Outcomes:

VR has a positive effect on certain physiological indicators, such as:

• Balance: Balance is the most positively affected indicator using VR, especially among older adults and those with certain conditions. VR improved sitting balance in children with cerebral palsy and overall balance in healthy older adults and those with cognitive disabilities.

• Limb function: VR significantly impacted lower limb function in older adults and spine and lower limb function in younger individuals. The effects on upper limb function in stroke patients vary according to the individual.

• Fitness: Fitness outcomes using VR differ for each individual.

• Body composition: Individuals with hemodialysis found a substantial influence by using VR.

• Muscle strength: One with hemodialysis demonstrated a significant impact.

Psychological Outcomes:

VR exercise is efficient at:

• Reducing fatigue

• Lowering depressive tendencies

• Enhancing health-related quality of life (HRQoL)

Both healthy people and those dealing with chronic conditions saw these beneficial outcomes. Psychological indicators do not have significant effects related to emotions and attention. VR exercises do not have a noticeable impact on mood and concentration.

Intensive Care Unit Stay Outcome:

During an extended stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), individuals often experience weakness, which can negatively affect their recovery. Hence some VR applications help individuals to recover from it. For example:

• VR gaming platforms like Nintendo Wii can support rehabilitation programs in the ICU by enhancing physical activity in adult ICU patients and critically sick children.

• VR therapy system called Jintronix targets different areas of the body, and it was found that people enjoyed the VR activities, felt improvements in their strength and range of motion, and were motivated to continue exercising.

• VR environments like ImmersiveRehab have been designed for rehabilitation after critical illnesses like stroke.

Pain Outcome:

• VR and AR can assist therapists in treating pain and disabilities by diverting attention from the body, recreating pain triggers, and personalizing simulated environments.

• They enhance pain management, improve understanding of pain experiences, and facilitate education.

• VR helps overcome the fear of movement, enriching memories of traumatic events and creating relaxing environments.

• It enables remote therapy monitoring, improves adherence, and privacy protection is essential.

Conclusion

Integrating new technology, such as augmented reality and virtual reality, into rehabilitation training can enhance track and field athletes' treatment and rehabilitation effects. Virtual reality rehabilitation can positively affect various aspects of recovery in individuals with spinal cord injuries. These effects include improvements in aerobic function, balance, pain levels, and motor function, as well as positive impacts on psychological and motivational aspects. Using VR and AR for rehabilitation in people shows promise for improving physical and mental well-being.