VR training = Saving lives

Resuscitation is a key part of emergency medicine. As such, it is an essential aspect of training for healthcare professionals, with traditional teaching often being performed in a classroom with the use of a model. However, with the addition of VR, this life-saving technique can be taught in a far more effective way. German start-up VIREED (Virtual Reality Education) have developed a number of solutions for training both individuals and groups in basic life support and emergency scenarios. Their immersive environments replicate the layout of real hospital rooms, and even make use of a physical mannequin to allow the user to practice doing compressions in a realistic way. During the Covid19 pandemic, they worked in conjunction with the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf to test out the effectiveness of their solution against traditional classroom learning. It was found that the VR training led to students being able to perform basic life support more quickly and with better results than the traditional training. Furthermore, the students reported more confidence in the VR training and overall felt that they had learnt more effectively using that method¹. Impressive results for virtual reality in healthcare, and ones which have been found in other contexts too.

Another study carried out in the middle of the Covid19 pandemic took place due to problems with social distancing created by the disease. In an attempt to prevent the spread of infection, and to reduce the burden on resources such as PPE, which was already high, VR training was implemented to see if it could take the place of traditional options. Once again, the results were positive, with participants being slightly more adept at carrying out safe examinations after the training. Furthermore, like with the resuscitation learning, the healthcare professionals in the VR groups felt much more satisfied afterwards than their non-VR counterparts, suggesting that VR training is more engaging than other methods².

Indeed, it seems to be user satisfaction that is one of the biggest advantages of VR training for healthcare over traditional methods. A study involving orthopedic trainees looked at different preoperative training methods to see which were the most effective. It was found that, while there were no differences in the results – things like surgical time and physical accuracy were the same whether the participants used VR or a physical simulation – the participants gave the VR training higher ratings than the other techniques³. If these methods can be implemented across the healthcare industry, they will provide far more affordable training which can be rolled out to areas with stretched budgets and without the space or equipment to carry out in-person teaching. We also know that people learn better if they are more engaged, so the subjective opinion of the trainees is crucial – it shows that they are more likely to take in the information presented to them.

VR training helping the elderly

VR training can also be used to improve quality of life for the elderly. Many older people suffer with mobility issues, often struggling with balance as they get beyond the age of 65. This can lead to falls, which can cause injury and significantly reduce future mobility. Back in 2018, using VR training through what now seems to be quite an old and primitive system, the Xbox 360 Kinect, a group at the Medical University in Szczecin, Poland, investigated whether they could improve balance and mobility in elderly patients over a 30-day period. The participants practiced games such as football, downhill skiing, and bowling, so the experience was also engaging and enjoyable. This helped to motivate them to carry out the training and made them feel more digitally engaged, something which elderly people can struggle with. The results were quite remarkable, with patients achieving gains in both static and dynamic balance, as well as big improvements in their mental health. As the authors of the study observed, depression and lack of physical activity go hand-in-hand with one another, so this kind of VR training can serve to lift multiple aspects of elderly people’s lives⁴.

Industrial uses

Training people in how to use complex tools and heavy machinery can be dangerous and potentially expensive. But, with virtual reality solutions for business, these two problems can be overcome. A study published in early 2022 looked at the use of VR to train workers responsible for maintaining and repairing induction motors, stating that VR offers many advantages over traditional instruction. The authors highlighted that younger generations who have grown up with digital technologies all around them are simply not engaged by traditional learning anymore. However, the biggest benefits come in terms of health and finance. Expensive equipment does not get unnecessarily damaged, and less investment is required. Furthermore, companies that might not be able to afford expensive training facilities or equipment can still provide their employees with good quality training. As with the healthcare examples, this VR training for industry was highly effective, with participants providing largely positive feedback on the experience. The authors noted that the ability of users to learn by doing is one of the key benefits of VR training, something which is important when teaching people to carry out difficult technical tasks such as fixing hi-tech equipment⁵.

Virtual Reality Training for Soft Skills

So far, we have seen evidence for the effectiveness of VR training for healthcare and industry with a focus on hard skills, but what about soft skills? Can VR training solutions for business really help people to improve things such as leadership abilities and dealing with customers? In 2021, PwC carried out some research (once again motivated by the Covid19 pandemic) to test this, specifically looking at inclusive leadership. The results were highly in favor of VR training over the classroom or even e-learning. Trainees felt significantly more focused and more emotionally connected to the content during the VR experiences. The training was also much faster (4 times quicker than in the classroom) than the other methods, and, as we have seen in hard skills VR training, the participants felt far more confident to apply the skills they had learned (as much as a 275% improvement in confidence compared to 203% for e-learning and 198% for the classroom). Finally, they found the VR training to be more cost-effective in the long-term. Although VR technology requires a higher initial investment, once the equipment has been purchased, it can be reused for many years with many different employees using the same device. So, the longer you plan to use VR training and the more learners you plan to teach, the more cost-effective it becomes.

Enhanced feedback

One final and significant benefit of VR training for business is the ability to monitor performance in ways that just aren’t possible in the real world. In particular, the tracking technology in VR headsets and controllers allows companies to precisely measure the physical actions of trainees and to track their eye movements as well. Of course, all of the usual metrics, such as speed of completion, can also be monitored, making the VR experience both engaging for the trainee and efficient for the trainer. With such an enhanced level of data collection, employers can quickly analyze training programs and make changes to the content to optimize them for future participants. It is, therefore, also important for staff to be monitored after completing training to see if they are implementing what they have learned. And here, another benefit of VR training comes into play: if staff members fail to improve after one round of training, it’s easy for them to simply step back into the virtual environment to practice again. You don’t have to pay for them to go anywhere or for an external trainer to come back.

Final Thoughts

There is mounting evidence for the effectiveness of VR training for healthcare and industry, though there is clearly scope for it to expand into many other areas. Companies such as XR Wizards are already creating solutions for healthcare companies, with their Mazer platform offering a place for medical device manufacturers to conduct product launches, tutorials, and training, for example. As the evidence shows, with this platform and others, healthcare providers will be able to offer expert training in a more engaging way and at a lower cost in the VR world. The exciting thing is that this is just the beginning. Much more research will be needed to find out the true extent of VR training for business, so keep an eye on this ever-expanding technology to see how it might benefit your company in the future.

References

1. Moll-Khosrawi, P., Falb, A., Pinnschmidt, H. et al. Virtual reality as a teaching method for resuscitation training in undergraduate first year medical students during COVID-19 pandemic: a randomised controlled trial. BMC Med Educ 22, 483 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03533-1
2. Birrenbach T, Zbinden J, Papagiannakis G, Exadaktylos AK, Müller M, Hautz WE, Sauter TC. Effectiveness and Utility of Virtual Reality Simulation as an Educational Tool for Safe Performance of COVID-19 Diagnostics: Prospective, Randomized Pilot Trial. JMIR Serious Games. 2021 Oct 8;9(4):e29586. doi: 10.2196/29586. PMID: 34623315; PMCID: PMC8510143.
3. Margalit A, Suresh KV, Marrache M, Lentz JM, Lee R, Tis J, Varghese R, Hayashi B, Jain A, Laporte D. Evaluation of a Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis Virtual Reality Surgical Simulation for the Orthopaedic Trainee. J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev. 2022 Apr 1;6(4):e22.00028. doi: 10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-22-00028. PMID: 35467580; PMCID: PMC9042586.
4. Kamińska, M. S., Miller, A., Rotter, I., Szylińska, A., & Grochans, E. (2018). The effectiveness of virtual reality training in reducing the risk of falls among elderly people. Clinical interventions in aging, 13, 2329–2338. https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S183502
5. Checa, David & Saucedo-Dorantes, Juan & Osornio-Rios, Roque & Antonino-Daviu, J.A. & Bustillo, Andrés. (2022). Virtual Reality Training Application for the Condition-Based Maintenance of Induction Motors. Applied Sciences. 12. 414. 10.3390/app12010414.

Medical Training in Metaverse

Medical training has involved the use of virtual reality (VR) and extended reality (XR) technologies in recent years, and this will only become more immersive and engaging as metaverse solutions for healthcare continue to develop. For most of this training, all that will be needed is a headset or other wearable device, such as Microsoft’s HoloLens – a headset that is more compact and less invasive than the bulkier ones most people associate with VR technology – meaning that it can be done from anywhere. With such devices, the learning experience can also be enhanced as it appeals to more of the senses than if students simply read from a book or watch a video, while also cutting them off from outside distractions. Such all-encompassing training is far more engaging and therefore far more memorable for students. And because lessons can be constructed to be infinitely repeatable, students can practice complex scenarios again and again.

Haptic technologies will also allow surgeons to train in the metaverse by providing realistic feelings of touch in the virtual world. Students will be able to dive into a digital space which is an exact replica of a surgical theatre to practice performing operations and get used to the high-pressure setting as well. Of course, this comes without any risk to the patient, and without the use of any physical equipment, so both lives and money can be saved. Such metaverse solutions for healthcare also offer the previously impossible opportunity for students to relive operations from the perspective of the surgeon. In this way, they will be able to learn from experts in the most immersive way possible.

Developing New Technologies

When the metaverse has been fully developed, it will be a universe full of interconnected virtual spaces such as the Mazer spaces created by XR Wizards. These will all be interoperable, meaning that individuals will be able to move freely between them from anywhere in the world. Designers and researchers will be able to come together in these metaverse spaces and collaborate from their respective offices or workshops to create new machinery and other medical solutions. This will effectively remove the borders and boundaries of the physical world, allowing the very best scientists and engineers from around the world to connect to build the very best healthcare solutions, all within a comfortable and immersive metaverse space.

Companies like ImmersiveTouch have already created XR solutions for healthcare which can give us an idea of how things might improve as the metaverse develops. They have developed a technology that allows surgeons to view a patient’s anatomy using 3D advanced visualization so that they can visualize the area to be operated on from all possible angles and in great detail prior to performing the operation. With more advanced wearables, they will also be able to see data from MRI or CT scans during surgery, making the process much more precise and effective.

Metaverses technologies will also help to develop decentralised medical platforms. DeHealth, a UK-based company, is building a metaverse platform where doctors can interact with patients no matter where they are in the world. This metaverse space will have its own economy that uses the HLT token and is backed up by blockchain technology, allowing it to become a fully decentralized ecosystem.

The development of digital twins, virtual representations of real-world objects, will also allow doctors to do things that they couldn’t even dream of just a few years ago. At the moment, digital twins are being used to make virtual models of individual organs and body parts, such as the human hearts created by Philips and Siemens, but, eventually, we will be able to create accurate digital twins of patients themselves, allowing us to perform tests or practice surgeries on them to project how they might react, thus making the whole process much more predictable and ultimately much safer. And they aren’t only used to map human bodies; digital twins are applied to supply chains, facilities, and equipment as well, meaning that they can be implemented as metaverse solutions for all sorts of businesses and industries. Of course, this will all mean that there is a huge amount of people’s highly sensitive data floating around in the metaverse, but with blockchain technology, it should be totally secure (see our Mazer blog post about blockchain in the metaverse for more on this).

Although the current applications are limited compared to what many are envisioning, companies like US-based medical outfit Zimmer Biomet are making the best use of the technology as it stands. They are currently using the HoloLens to develop surgical tools, track patient progress, and bring doctors together with their patients in mixed reality experiences to prepare both for procedures and surgeries. From these modest beginnings, it’s clear to see that there is the potential to develop far more sophisticated metaverse solutions for the healthcare industry.

Physical Health in the Metaverse

The metaverse will allow vast improvements to disease management by offering GPs the chance to interact with their patients in a fully digital environment which is ultra-realistic. This means that people with potentially contagious illnesses will be able to see the doctor face-to-face without going into the clinic and putting others at risk. At the moment, telephone appointments and even video appointments are offered by some surgeries, but metaverse appointments will offer a more immersive and personal experience for both patient and doctor.

It’s not only doctors and patients that will benefit from this more personal digital experience. Personal trainers will be able to connect with clients in different countries and even bring together large groups of people in virtual training workshops, giving participants the motivation that comes with mass accountability and the chance to exercise with others without leaving the comfort of their own homes. One great example of this is Zwift. Taking inspiration from Fortnite, they have created a virtual world in which people can connect and exercise together. And the system is highly convenient as users can simply connect it to their own bicycle, allowing them to ride and even compete within the virtual space. They even ran their own virtual Tour De France. Such metaverse solutions will help to lift the overall health of society, perhaps easing some of the burden on the healthcare system.

Mental Health in the Metaverse

Loneliness is said to be one of the worst things for people’s mental health and was a real problem for those living alone through the lockdowns of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. With metaverse solutions for healthcare, people will be able to connect in the virtual world as if they were right next to each other in the real world, thus helping to alleviate the feeling of being alone and allowing companionship and connection even when you are not physically with others.

There is also scope for therapy and counselling to occur in the metaverse. In one Oxford University study, VR therapy led to a 38% decrease in anxiety for sufferers over six weeks. The metaverse start-up Rey is also working in this area by building simulations in which anxiety sufferers can be coached through realistic situations that would trigger their anxiety in the real world. As the metaverse is so life-like, this can help to rewire the brain so that patients can implement the same behaviours in the real world to deal with their anxiety. Psychologists at the University of Southern California ICT have also created Bravemind, a VR exposure therapy used to treat veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorders.

Other companies have created whole virtual worlds dedicated to improving mental wellbeing. Bump Galaxy allows ordinary people to enter metaverse environments in which they can work through their mental health issues, such as a forest within which they can meditate or a netherworld where they can confront their fears. Along with this metaverse solution, users will also have access to healthcare professionals from around the globe, further improving the equity of healthcare worldwide. Through these kinds of global collaborations, they hope to create Community Care Records, a search engine for mental health care which is available to all.

Bump Galaxy also hopes to offer games which people can use to work on their mental health. In fact, in June 2020, the FDA approved a video game for the treatment of ADHD in children for the first time ever. It is called EndeavorRX and can actually be prescribed to patients as a therapeutic treatment. Although this currently runs on patients’ smartphones, it shows the possibilities and there’s no doubt that therapeutic metaverse spaces will be created for similar purposes.

Hospitals in the Metaverse

Now, a US healthcare tech company, Treatment, is attempting to build a Medical Metaverse. Treatment has announced ambitious plans to expand the Global Library of Medicine, which will provide a huge amount of data to support patients at home as well as medical professionals during education and decision making. This will bring unprecedented access to medical information for healthcare systems worldwide and facilitate outstanding collaboration across continents for medical staff and for students taking their first steps on their journey into medicine.

Another company, Veyond Metaverse, aims to build the world’s very first metaverse hospital. Like Treatment, they aim to improve the connections between medical professionals around the world to create seamless communication between the very best in the business. They also want to begin a revolution in the world of medical education and training to increase the quality of care offered on a global scale. Another company, Latus Health, has also begun a project to build a virtual hospital. For them, it will be a place where patients will at first be able to come for counselling and physiotherapy treatments. With the quality of modern motion tracking devices, it will be possible for physiotherapists to monitor a patient’s range of movement remotely, saving them long trips to the hospital and making life easier for everyone involved. This kind of technology will be particularly advantageous for those living in remote communities who might normally struggle to receive hospital treatment.

Final Thoughts

With more and more pressure on our healthcare services, the time- and money-saving possibilities of metaverse solutions for healthcare are likely to offer these systems a helping hand. Beyond this, it may help to create a more efficient and safer service for both doctors and patients in the future through improved training and better surgical practices. It is still early days for the metaverse, but it is worth considering how companies like XR Wizards could implement their Mazer platform to start you on the road towards metaverse success.

Read also: VR In Medical Training

What actually is XR?

XR in pharma, VR in pharma, AR in pharma – we often hear it, but most people still mix these terms up. Let’s start with a short explanation then. XR (Extended Reality) comprises both Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR). Virtual Reality entirely immerses the user into virtual surroundings (the user usually wears a VR headset that projects images to human eyes). On the other hand, Augmented Reality adds virtual elements to real-world imagery (usually, a camera takes a picture that is analyzed in real-time and enriched with additional information). Extended Reality is both VR and AR. As more and more XR solutions are becoming available, the XR market is forecasted to be worth $10.82 billion by 2026.

XR in pharma

It turns out that the use of Extended Reality in the pharmaceutical sector has become commonplace. Experts agree that the pharma industry operates within one of the most complex, strictest, and regulated frameworks of any industry. Therefore, XR in pharma is a great answer and solution to the industry challenges. There are lots of established companies, researchers, digital startups, and big tech companies that have quickly absorbed Extended Reality in their daily activities. Some examples of AR and VR in pharma:

• XR is used in stroke rehabilitation – patients recover and train in a motivational, task-oriented, and controlled virtual environment.
• XR in pharma is used in surgeon training – such training is even 20% faster than regular on-site training.
• VR in pharma is used for pain management – patients are treated regularly with relaxing and meditative VR experiences, and it has already shown significant improvements in pain levels.
• VR is used in clinical trials.

And these are just a few examples. There are also VR-supported ocular-motor impairment diagnostics or VR-controlled surgical robots. According to some research, VR and AR in pharma could add approximately $1.5 trillion to the global economy by 2030. What are the problems XR in pharma solves, then?

Data visualization

Thanks to XR in pharma, you can review 3D assets and view 3D models at full scale. It enables scientists and engineers to inspect data in a spatial context and visualize their models at full scale. They have an amazing opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of pharmaceutical data, assess the look and feel, scale, and spatial elements of the drug or other pharma product in a more intuitive way. By using VR and AR they can see their products in their world, their office, laboratory or factory. Doesn’t it sound impressive to interact with virtual molecules?

Virtual learning and training

Training in the pharmaceutical sector is usually costly and time-consuming. XR in pharma can be a solution to these challenges. Simulation processes eliminate the need for physical equipment (and such equipment is usually very expensive) and at the same time, it increases information retention. The XR learning process is more engaging and makes participants store more knowledge. On top of that, using Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality in pharma training creates a sense of personal connection as it feels like real one-on-one training in a virtual world. Professionals are provided with a better understanding of pharmaceutical products, and they can enhance their skills in real-world-like situations. VR in pharma can be also helpful to pharmacy students who prefer visual learning opportunities rather than reading textbooks. Students can access and interact with different VR scenarios remotely, facilitating distance learning or training.

XR in pharma – manufacturing new drugs

XR might be very useful for pharmaceutical designing. The technology uses virtual models which speeds up and simplifies decision making and makes possible changes and modifications much easier to implement at any stage of the production process. It is especially beneficial during the pre-clinical phase and pharmaceutical research. It may be used to visualize molecular structures of target proteins. XR provides valuable insights for the lead generation process which in consequence may result in more successful trials and launches of new drugs. AR in pharma has a positive impact on therapy adherence. It could also play a huge role in at-home patient observations. This may further lower the costs.

Quality

Extended Reality has proved its huge impact on quality control and safety standards in the pharmaceutical sector. Especially in product audits. Such an audit includes the analysis of business processes and production itself. When it comes to quality in pharma, the risk is much higher than in most sectors. Any mistake can damage the entire product development cycle and brand reputation. XR in pharma lowers human error but allows keeping a high level of regularity in products. Among the others, auditors and experts can visualize production processes from remote locations in real-time.

Collaboration

Collaboration is of the utmost importance in most industries and the pharmaceutical sector is not an exception. Thanks to XR in pharma, different teams of experts and scientists located all over the world can work together, fully synced on molecular structures using smartphones and AR/VR software. They can visualize, edit, and update the shared structures for future processing. As most big pharmaceutical companies have manufacturing facilities worldwide, sometimes it is almost impossible to get help from an expert quite miles from the office. AR and VR in pharma solve the issue of costly traveling that consumes time. Experts can troubleshoot without physically being present. They can navigate models and see all details in real-time. The most innovative solutions even include 3D avatars projected at the production site.

Marketing in the pharmaceutical sector

Pharma is quite a difficult industry to promote. Many restrictions to follow, difficult clients, powerful competitors – it is hard to stand out from the crowd. Extended Reality is a way to demonstrate medical products and facilitate communication with healthcare professionals. You can try using XR in pharma no matter if you are a sales representative or if you run a medical-scientific business. For instance, VR and AR in pharma facilitate HCP communications. It works in product demonstrations, XR-enhanced e-detailing, etc.

How to start using XR in pharma

Most companies that haven’t used VR or AR technologies believe that implementing XR in pharma is a very daunting and strenuous task. At some point, it’s true – XR technology is very complex and advanced, so you must spend some time learning how it all works. However, even if this is your first XR experience, you can follow some general tips that will make your XR launch smooth and easy. Knowing how to use VR and AR in pharma may be crucial to your initiatives’ success. How to start then? First, you should get to know your audience well. Find out what information they need and answer their questions. Then, it will be easier to create a unique immersive XR project. The next thing is scalability. Limit your experience to a specific audience and use the best that Extended Reality can offer now. Do not wait until everyone in the industry is using XR in pharma.

XR in pharma – final word

Extended Reality is one of these cutting-edge technologies that advance processes in all areas of our lives. Therefore, it has also advanced the process of new drug discovery. It has extended the efficiency of the R&D teams and speeded up processes are handled. Will XR in pharma stay with us longer? Definitely – it can even be revolutionary.

Read also: Mixed Reality in Healthcare.

Can VR help with depression treatment?

For many years, a wide variety of strategies have been used to accommodate the management of both physical and psychological symptoms in patients. It became clear that in order to address all the needs patients have, we have to consider both the biological impact of illness and the psychosocial one. The first use of  VR in medicine took place in the early 90s. It turned out that Virtual Reality can be widely and flexibly used in various types of treatment as it’s more affordable and immersive. The technology has been tested in numerous medical conditions including depression, anxiety, pain and fatigue – all these represent the most common symptoms of many (or even most) diseases.

VR in depression therapy and anxiety treatment

Depression is now a very common mental disorder with a large treatment gap. Depression episodes usually become recurrent and only an estimated half of sufferers in developed countries seek treatment. The first try with VR in terms of therapies was introduced in the mid-60s. Since then, Virtual Reality content has been used to treat anxiety disorders related to spider phobia, the fears of flying, heights and public speaking.  Now VR technology looks a little bit like a game entertainment system. Patients use a VR headset with a viewing screen to see themselves from the perspective of a life-size avatar. Doctors call it ‘embodiment’. Originally developed for patients with psychosis, avatar therapy can be used to externalize self-criticism and other negative feelings usually reported by depressed and anxious patients. Virtual Reality interventions that do not require a therapist are a very promising solution. There even have been some attempts at translating CBT (cognitive behavioral therapeutic – a diverse yet coherent collection of therapeutic techniques that aim to promote change in behavior and cognition) techniques for depression into the VR modality. The technology has been used as a tool to deliver exposure therapy, psychoeducation and relaxation therapy in people who suffer depression, anxiety or both.  Most studies confirm that there is a statistically significant reduction in patients’ anxiety and the level of depression after VR therapy. This is a clear sign that the use of Virtual Reality as an intervention in particular clinical settings has a very relevant effect on depression and anxiety levels.

How the VR therapy works

The main objective is to allow the patient to feel immersed in a virtual, computer-generated world. Usually, the patient uses a head-mounted display that withholds the outside world. Sometimes, sound effects are also used. The display created the illusion of depth perception. The great thing is that Virtual Reality provides full control over the patient’s experience. Here are the main reasons why VR helps treat anxiety and depression.

• It’s a controlled environment, fully safe for a patient. The room is equipped with special consoles and headsets so that the patient can relive experiences that caused the symptoms. They are triggered by acts done by their avatar. A patient has various options to choose their reaction. There is a pop-up menu with all options, the patient chooses one and submits it into the virtual world. After the choice is made, the patient sees their decision and behavioral responses from a third-person perspective.
• Using Virtual Reality is efficient. Such technology makes it possible to create particular situations that will show the patient how to manage their negative feelings. Patients can learn and test various solutions to situations they can face in real life. They are kind of forced to face (or sometimes re-live) certain life experiences. In consequence, therapy can reduce depression and remove fears and anxiety.
• Virtual Reality treatment might be scalable and cost-effective. The cost is relatively low so the therapy should be quite affordable. As it’s a non-invasive form of therapy, it is fully scalable, and it can become widespread. The overall cost of depression treatment will decrease which may cause insurance savings.
• Virtual Reality can create an engaging and repeatable environment. Patients can enter a fully immersive environment and have simulated interactions with virtual humans. VR might also be effective as a way to train for difficult conversations.

VR helps treat PTSD

We have explained that patients with depression respond to VR therapy well. However, we should also mention VRET. VRET – Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy – has been also examined as another way to help people recover from PTSD. What is an exposure therapy? It targets behaviors that people engage in in response to situations and memories that are remembered as anxiety-provoking. A quick example could be a soldier who was injured on a battlefield and now they avoid noisy and crowded places for fear that they will be attacked. Such fear measurably lowers the quality of life of a person.  What VRET is doing, is to confront the things a person fears most. This way, they can learn that fear and anxiety will lessen on their own. VRET is immersing a patient in a computer-generated virtual environment that is programmed to help them confront feared situations or locations. VRET for PTSD was first examined in Vietnam War combat veterans and studies showed that soldiers experienced a reduction in their PTSD symptoms after the exposure therapy. The technique was also examined in soldiers from the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. Like the Vietnam-War ones, their PTSD symptoms were reduced after the exposure treatment. Some studies show that patients suffering from PTSD who also struggle with depression might respond better to VRET, compared to other methods. A depressed patient is less able to engage in their trauma memory so when the VR technology simulates traumatic events, it helps bring these triggering events to life for depressed patients. This way, they can start unlearning their anxiety response.

If VR helps treat anxiety, what about claustrophobia?

Some studies show that, besides depression, anxiety and PTSD treatment, Virtual Reality can be also a way to help treat claustrophobia. It has been proven that the level of anxiety was reduced even when simulated elevator moving to the 10th floor was included (same with magnetic resonance imaging). Virtual Reality can be also treated as some kind of distraction tool that reduces pain and anxiety in various types of phobias. Why? The technology enables people to land in simulated real-world environments so that they can work on their fears of certain situations. Narrow tunnels, elevators, small houses, basements etc. – these are just examples of simulations VR can immerse you into. The VR therapy gradually puts a person in a situation that triggers anxiety. You have to face the condition, which is a big factor in learning how to overcome it.

VR in depression therapy – summary

Even if some people still consider Virtual Reality as an innovative way to enjoy video games, more and more often it’s also a technique of treating very serious psychological disabilities. The use of this modern technology to fight depression and anxiety is still evolving but it has become more and more effective. For sure, it can be a revolutionary way to treat patients and significantly improve their symptoms.  Even though some people still consider virtual reality to be an innovative way to use video games, it is also increasingly being used as a treatment technique for very serious mental disorders. Mazer uses modern technologies to apply them to the front of the fight against depression and anxiety. It constantly develops its technologies, which makes them more and more effective in the treatment of disorders. It can certainly be a revolutionary way to treat patients and significantly alleviate their symptoms.

Read also about Virtual Reality for disabled people.

VR workout is not just something that doesn’t go well beyond video games. It has come a long way with improved technology and now, both individuals use technology to immerse into a new, virtual workout environment in the safety of their homes, and huge gym networks include VR gymin their current or future development strategies . Why? Keep reading to find out everything about VR workout!

VR workout to be done at home

If you have been paying a little bit attention to Virtual Reality technologies, you must have heard about Oculus, a no. 1 and only option for a long time. Now, VR is more accessible than ever, and VR full-body workout is available to anyone. While VR workout began as a novelty, now it can be a state-of-the-art fitness center in the middle of your living room.

To be honest, there are probably dozens or hundreds of VR fitness apps to choose from. Every single one helps you burn some calories but in fact, there are only a few specifically focused on exercise. Lets look at the most popular and recommended VR fitness app type.

VR sport game apps – Virtual Reality Fitness Games are virtual sports games. They consist in moving in accordance with the game’s directions and its characteristics in specially prepared glasses (goggles), put on the face. Thanks to them, we can move to virtual reality and without leaving home we can move to another world. All we have to do is follow the plot of the game and follow certain instructions

VR Fitness games are divided into different categories. You can choose from sports games, dance games or role-playing games. The most common categories that can be divided into virtual games are:

• martial arts, e.g. boxing, kickboxing, gladiatorial fights
• skill games, e.g. archery, basketball, golf
• dance games
• role-playing games
• team games, such as the NBA
• sports games, e.g. fitness training, strength training, squat challenge, winter sports, ping-pong, wingsuit, tennis

Why Virtual Reality workout at home is a great idea?

VR workout has numerous advantages. First of all, it’s massive fun. You don’t even feel like you’re working out. Nobody likes dreading a workout and VR feels like play. And when something brings you joy, it becomes sustainable, doesn’t it? Virtual Reality gym is something you lose yourself in. Just perfect for those who want to sweat and laugh like a kid at the same time. What else?

• Are you a competitive person? No matter if you love to compete against opponents or against yourself, VR has been created just for you. You work out harder and harder, increase your position on the scoreboard and beat your opponents.
• Convenience – VR fitness doesn’t require any additional equipment. You can throw on a VR gym at any time. You can try new things in full privacy – no need to feel intimidated, you are in the safety of your home, doing your favorite workout!
• VR workoutis beneficial to your technique , coordination and brain-body connection – virtual reality workout perfectly builds your coordination. You can master your precision of movements and become really quick. On top of that, VR fitness apps help you keep your body and brain working together.
• VR breaks up the monotony – while going to a regular gym, your trainer probably likes to tout the importance of creating a habit, developing internal motivation. In fact, most people struggle with this approach and Virtual Reality means endless opportunities for novelty in workouts. You can also connect (literally) with other users all over the world.

VR gyms – the future of fitness is now?

A few years ago, Bluetooth-enabled treadmills were a fringe technology. Today, a handful of innovative VR gyms start to offer immersive fitness experiences unfolding in vast digital worlds. The experience itself is the real game-changer – there are fully immersive video games that users pedal through on specially equipped stationary bikes while wearing alien-looking headsets. You can also propel a kayak down a tropical river or ride the back of a flying horse through a mythical landscape. You are quickly set into an immersive state that makes exercising fly by and feel less tedious. A half-hour goes, an hour goes, and you have burnt hundreds of calories and a Virtual Reality workout is made. VR gyms are definitely an exhilarating and adventurous way to carve off some pounds, build up muscle and feel more empowered!

How about equipment?

Gyms of the future make it easier for you to accomplish your fitness goals – take control over your body, feel better about yourself and stay strong for years to come. What VR gym equipment can you expect?

• Black Box VR – probably one of the most innovative among VR gym equipment. The box covers about 8 feet by 8 feet room. You have Vive tracked armbands attached to stand as weapons and special abilities in virtual sports. You are the superhero who defeats bad guys with chest presses in Virtual Reality. At the same time, you get a major upper body workout.
• Holofit – a VR fitness machine that changes the way gym-goers get their cardio in. It’s VR running, spinning and elliptical training that gives you a kick out of life. The machine uses Vive headsets that have various games taking you from outer space to an underwater ocean.
• Icaros – a real breakthrough for exercising and zeroing in on the abs and obliques. Their VR flying games work for the core, back, upper and lower body by shifting body weight. There is a flying simulator that you use with Vive, Oculus and Gear VR headsets.
• VirZOOM – a VR fitness machine that brings fully immersive exercise bikes to gyms.

Why invest in Virtual Reality gym?

If you want to increase the motivation of gym-goers, VR gym equipment is something that will bring your gym to the next level. With virtual reality gymyour customers not only get attracted towards it, but it also creates an immersive feeling. It’s more play than work – VR fitness games make workout more fun and allow users to track their progress, heart rate etc. People can also compete with others in real-time. First, they are excited to see how real the virtual environment is but then, they are also surprised by how effective a workout is. From a gym owner’s point of view, VR gym definitely boosts customer excitement and fuels the gym adoption rate. More members are attracted as people are excited to try VR-based applications. The potential of VR as a fitness tool is literally limitless.

The future of VR gyms

Virtual Reality is definitely changing what the gyms of the present look like. The technology is expanding at an unprecedented rate with many gyms implementing it to make workout more fun for members and also increase their profits. This is more than safe to say that VR is becoming one of the hottest trends in the fitness industry.
If you want to learn more about virtual reality in marketing then check out the article we have prepared! .

What is mixed reality?

Mixed reality is when the virtual world coincides and interacts with the real world which makes it relevant for use in AI-based training. Like other forms of virtual reality, the technology requires the user to wear a headset like HoloLens, but there are actually two types of MR. One starts with the real world (some experts consider it an advanced form of AR as the user remains in the real-world environment while digital content is added to it. Virtual objects can interact with the real world, though) and the other with the virtual world – the user is immersed in the virtual environment while the real world is blocked out. It may seem like VR, but the digital objects appear over ones in the real world (while in VR, the environment isn’t connected to the real world around the user).

What is the difference between mixed reality and augmented and virtual reality?

All three play an important role in the development of both healthcare and a wide variety of industries. Virtual reality provides a simulation which enables the user to fully immerse themselves in a virtual world. Here, the user doesn’t have any sense of the real world. On the other hand, augmented reality is an overlap of virtual information onto the physical world that enhances the overall experience. Finally, mixed reality falls somewhere between AR and VR. It doesn’t just overlay but anchors virtual objects to the real world. So, the main difference between MR and AR and VR is the interaction between the real and virtual worlds. In terms of the future development of medicine, MR, with its added interactive capabilities, may have the largest potential to change both the digital and the real landscape of healthcare.

Practical uses of mixed reality in healthcare

Medical processes and procedures require the highest degree of focus and accuracy. Performing critical surgeries means analyzing multiple variables to make the right decisions in every situation. MR in medicine can make procedures much simpler to perform for healthcare professionals while also making them safer for patients. Currently, the following uses of mixed reality in healthcare are worth mentioning.

Interactive medical training

Medical training should be as immersive as possible so that the prospective doctor is fully prepared for their future duties. Mixed reality may provide the opportunity to gain knowledge faster and more effectively. Thanks to the healthcare mixed reality HoloLens, students can physically perform practice surgeries without risking lives. Training efficacy may be greater than ever before. In some cases, students don’t have to practice surgeries using cadavers anymore.

Real-time diagnostics

Performing medical diagnostics is often a race against the clock. If a doctor isn’t equipped with the appropriate data or doesn’t know the patient’s medical history, this may lead to the wrong decisions being made. Mixed reality in healthcare makes it possible to reduce the number of people required to make a diagnosis, which makes the whole process much faster and less stressful for the patient. The use of MR in medical diagnostics has given rise to real-time medical visualization tools. For example, there is the virtual autopsy table which displays a scanned image of the patient’s body in real-time. Mixed-reality glasses display digital images over to the patient’s body to perform real-time analysis. Mixed reality headsets can identify patients and instantly provide relevant medical information to doctors. This saves time during interactions and allows doctors to respond to emergencies quickly.

Image-guided surgeries

Image-guided surgeries help surgeons perform operations with greater precision. Doctors are provided with real-time information on the patient’s health condition during surgery. They can view images from non-intrusive scanning systems so that they are able to follow and react to changes occurring in the patient’s body during surgery. Like a mobile phone global positioning system, surgical navigation continuously tracks parts of the patient’s anatomy and displays them on a monitor during the surgery. This helps orient the surgeon with 3D images of the patient’s body (including tumors, for example) and prevents any hidden complications. The mapped-out surgical plan overlaid onto the real patient makes it possible for the surgeon to be precisely guided during the procedure. Multiple experts are able to join the surgery remotely to help make decisions as it progresses.

Surgical planning and patient education

Virtual surgery intelligence allows doctors to show patients their own MRI scans and explain the level of complication in a surgical procedure in a visual format. It enhances the patient experience as both patient and doctor can share the same perspective. Discussing the surgery and planning and initiating the treatment procedure in this way reduces response times in patient care. Patients are better prepared for surgeries and feel less anxious about procedures.

Remote patient care

Having instant access to real-time data provides a great chance for hospitals to provide hospital-level care to patients at home. Thanks to the healthcare mixed reality HoloLens, patients can feel more comfortable and at the same time, the load on in-house hospital resources can be reduced. Any resources that have been freed up can be used for more critical patients.

What do you need to start using MR in medicine?

Of course, when you decide to implement MR technology, you need professional software that will enable you to anchor virtual objects to the real world. In order to build immersive 3D objects, you need a suite of MR software development tools that will add in sensory feedback to give a sense of presence and immerse the user in the interactive elements. Most often, goggles, helmets, and glasses are used to allow the user to see 3D objects as if they were actually there. As mixed reality is a much newer concept than VR and AR, the devices are still more expensive than VR and AR software. One of the examples of this is Microsoft’s HoloLens2.

The future of mixed reality in healthcare

MR in medicine offers a chance to find new ways of interacting with patients by projecting information onto medical charts. Actually, it can even project information directly onto the patient. The technology provides a means of viewing images and data in the most convenient way, which makes doctors’ work much more efficient. The healthcare mixed reality HoloLens offers amazing capabilities by using holograms to create realistic images. Even if the device is still considered to be relatively expensive (over $3,000 now), the price is relatively low compared to many common medical devices. No doubt we can expect cheaper headsets to come to the market very soon.

In the near future, mixed reality in healthcare will be something that empowers care teams – more and more care teams will be able to collaborate remotely and conduct virtual patient consultations using real-time information. The patient experience will be enhanced even more thanks to individual treatment plans and accelerated clinical diagnoses. MR in medicine will enable innovative telehealth solutions to improve care coordination which will result in faster and better care at lower costs. With instant access to information and interactive programs for students, it seems that MR in medicine may turn out to be a primary means of educating future doctors and diagnosing patients. In recent years, healthcare has been progressing at lightning speed and it’s clear that mixed reality is opening up a world of possibilities for medical care which are set to speed up this progress even further.

Check also VR Improves Health Effects Of Gaming Vs Traditional Consoles.

Innovative training methods in emergency medical services

The work of a paramedic is constantly associated with high risk. It requires situational judgement, quick and accurate decision-making, and appropriate life-saving actions to be taken under time pressure, often in adverse external conditions and with little or no tolerance for error. Therefore, simulation is playing an increasingly important role in the education and training of practitioners of emergency medicine. Typically, advanced simulators with audio-video systems and rescue equipment are required to train such experts. However, this can make it challenging to train a larger group of people and increases learning times. Fortunately, modern technologies, particularly virtual reality, have come to the rescue.

Virtual reality in EMS – how does it work?

VR (Virtual Reality) creates a realistic virtual world so that the objects seen in it appear to be physically present within the space. If we put on a pair of virtual reality goggles and a set of headphones, our two most critical cognitive senses are cut off from the stimuli of the outside world. We can be sure that no external stimulus will distract us. In this state, we experience the so-called immersion or complete immersion of the human senses in the virtual world.

This technology is increasingly used for training, such as in the medical industry, and it plays a unique role in EMS (Emergency Medical Services). The goggles mentioned above, along with special gloves and controllers, allow for a realistic recreation of the working conditions of a paramedic. In this way, training can be carried out in different situations and places and can replicate a number of medical scenarios. Therefore, those taking part in such activities can, without much trouble, practice dealing with various healthcare problems or carry out a complete diagnostic process, most importantly without harming the health of their patients – because everything, though it looks very realistic, takes place in a virtual world.

Why is Virtual Reality Simulation for EMS training gaining popularity?

It’s challenging to simulate situations with limited time and options during standard classes. Conversely, with VR, paramedics literally only need to make a few clicks to prepare to operate in a life-threatening emergency where it can be difficult to save dozens of victims at once.

Furthermore, VR technology in EMS can create highly realistic environments – virtual scenarios actually induce stress, as well as allowing users to interview, assess, diagnose and treat patients in real-time. For example, scenarios can be accompanied by the ambient sounds of a real accident: the whine of a defibrillator, the whir of a siren, or even a dispatcher’s voice. Naturally, this will make it difficult to concentrate, but this is exactly the point as they will likely have to work under such conditions, or worse, in real life. Therefore, the possibility of carrying out EMS training in conditions created with the help of virtual reality is incredibly important – it allows better preparation for the profession of a paramedic or doctor.

What are the benefits of using Virtual Reality Simulation in EMS training?

Virtual reality in medicine offers an extensive range of applications. Some of the key benefits of using this technology to train paramedics include:

• increased control over the accuracy of activities performed;
• the ability to use real medical equipment under simulated conditions;
• practicing invasive procedures;
• continuous repetition of practical skills and their evaluation and analysis;
• allowing errors to be made and their consequences demonstrated under simulated conditions;
• avoiding danger to patients and learners;
• implementation of the same scenario for all paramedics;
• planning clinical education based on student needs and curriculum rather than patient availability;
• exposure to rare and complex clinical situations;
• concluding and summarizing immediately after the session during debriefing;
• the ability to create training scenarios that are very close to real-life situations, so that the paramedic can quickly transfer the training experience gained in theoretical conditions to a real-life situation in the future.

Virtual reality simulation for EMS training is the future and the best choice for those who want to gain even better experience and skills as a paramedic. So, it’s worth considering what new technologies can offer your business and your employees, including VR for EMS training, but for many other industries as well.

Delivering a baby – is it possible to get prepared?

If you asked a group of mothers about the most meaningful moments in their lives, most of them would probably say that bringing a child into the world was one of them. However, most of them would probably also say that going into labor was a great challenge for both their bodies and minds. Every woman is different. Their bodies are different, and no two births are the same. However, the process of getting prepared for the labor should be carried out properly in each case. There are many widely available methods for getting prepared to deliver a baby, and experts recommend the following:

1. Prepare your mind – don’t listen to horror stories about labor. They are unhelpful, especially if you are feeling nervous. There are many positive stories out there too.
2. Prepare your body – performing exercises during pregnancy can really make your labor much easier. Pregnancy itself can be just as hard on the body as any sport. Labor often requires stamina and strength, so it’s crucial to prepare your body for it. Find a pregnancy yoga class near you, go for regular walks, or look for an antenatal exercise class in your neighborhood. Most importantly, your exercise should strengthen the muscles that you will be using while giving birth.
3. Use relaxation techniques – these include breathing exercises that will help you calm your nerves. Meditation and positive visualization can also help you relax.
4. Understand different labor positions – changing positions during labor may offer benefits such as a sense of self-control or reduced need for medication. Be sure to practice different positions beforehand.
5. Learn how to deal with the pain of labor – this is quite challenging. The contractions the body makes to push the baby are usually uncomfortable and painful. Drugs are an option, but more and more women are deciding to give birth without the use of medications. This is why it’s a very good idea to familiarize yourself with strategies that you can use to manage this discomfort naturally.

Is it possible that virtual reality can help women prepare for labor?

In today’s world, labor wards and delivery rooms are trying to help mothers deal with the pain by turning to a technology used primarily by gamers. These are VR headsets – childbirth simulators, VR birth simulators etc. For example, voice guidance and visuals are used to calm the woman down during delivery. Virtual reality is also being used to help women prepare for labor. VR birth training is a complex, yet virtual simulation of the environment a woman will need to deal with when the time comes. Thanks to the VR headset, she can see the exact hospital room and the medical staff who will take care of her during her labor. VR birth simulator can even simulate the pain a woman experiences while delivering a baby thanks to special electrodes. All these technologies can help a woman to prepare to give birth without making the real labor less meaningful. The major goal is to prepare both the woman and the medical staff so that the labor is safe and under control.

What is virtual reality?

Before we dive deeper into VR technology and how it can make labor easier, let’s spend a second explaining what virtual reality actually is. Virtual reality uses software to create an immersive simulated environment. VR users put on head-mounted displays which place them inside an experience where they can engage with the environment and virtual characters in a way that feels real. Virtual reality is interactive, immersive, adaptive, and dynamic. If you can imagine being in a highly realistic computer game, you have an approximation of what virtual reality feels like. For learners, VR makes accessing many clinical experiences simple. It allows learners to make mistakes safely, so it’s great for education, especially in sensitive industries like healthcare and medicine.

VR birth simulator – how does it work?

First, let’s explain what VRObs is. It’s an innovative training simulation, targeted at providing training for an uncomplicated birth delivery. It has been developed for students to be able to learn independently and receive feedback and guidance from a virtual instructor. The program consists of three main features: stage-based learning, motion guidance, and real-time analytics. It is already used by medical schools and institutions that train undergraduate doctors and nurses. VR birth training is an automated high-tech lifelike patient manikin that mimics a woman going through labor and delivery.  Childbirth simulators range from static models to advanced, fully automated technical models. The high-end ones provide a woman with a real-life labor experience, including the pain they may feel. They use wireless remote controls, streaming audio, cardiac functions, and palpable pulses etc. Thanks to childbirth simulators and VRObs, medical students can learn how to deal with the different positions of the baby, check their heart and respiratory rates, and practice performing a cesarean section etc.

The VR birth simulator from a woman’s perspective

Most medical professionals admit that VR technology may be an alternative for pain management. Women who have had a chance to try the VR birth training say that the technology helped them reach a state of relaxation. While in hospital, VR can take a woman away from the uncomfortable environment they are in. VR can also be used with women who have previously had difficult birth experiences. Virtual reality brings another dimension to breathing, relaxation, and preparation for labor. It’s an option for pain relief without opioids – a VR childbirth simulator alleviates all kinds of pain and dissipates fear. And all this without any severe side effects. It has been proven that women who used VR headsets recorded lower pain scores and lower heart rates during their labors, which may suggest a physiological response to reduced pain.

The VR birth simulator from medical professionals’ perspective

Experts keep saying that VR birth training and VRObs have been developed as a result of an unchanging system of surgical training. Today, virtual reality is one of the most effective ways to practice labor and prepare as much as possible to help a woman deliver a baby. Medical students can practice anytime and anywhere in a completely immersive environment. They know what the woman in labor is experiencing and how she feels. Students and professionals can deal with real-life situations. This is followed by feedback and debriefing to allow them to learn from their mistakes.  A childbirth simulator helps medical professionals visualize the interior of the human body and use various scenarios that closely mimic common surgical situations. One big advantage of this is that the software is fully flexible. It can be updated and customized, so multiple scenarios can be trained. All these make us feel that medical education is rapidly changing. VR simulation is becoming a cornerstone of clinical training and so far, it has been effective. VRObs has been emerging as a new method of delivering simulation – it has become a cost-effective, repeatable, standardized method of carrying out clinical training on demand.

Summary

Will women deliver their babies using virtual reality in the future? Will a childbirth simulator be a popular software to prepare for labor? If we take away the skepticism and the reluctance to try something new, this may be a great breakthrough in handling the pain of labor. VR is certainly a promising option.

Read also: Mixed Reality in Healthcare.

What is chronic pain?

In the US, over $17.8 billion is spent prescribing pain medication annually. In the past, opioid medications were most widely used for chronic pain treatment, but it was quickly noticed that these had too many negative side effects, including increased risk of permanent disability and a potential delay in recovery. Therefore, the need to come up with alternative methods for pain management has become urgent.

So, what actually is chronic pain syndrome? We all know that pain occurs when something hurts, causing an uncomfortable or unpleasant feeling. Simply put, there are two types of pain. One is acute pain, which comes on suddenly and is caused by something specific. It doesn’t usually last longer than 6 months. Causes of acute pain include surgery, dental work, burns or cuts, broken bones, labor, and childbirth etc. Then there is chronic pain. This is pain that is ongoing and lasts for a long time – months or even years. 

Chronic pain can happen anywhere in the body. It can interfere with a person’s daily activities such as working, taking care of themselves or others, or having a social life. It may lead to depression, anxiety, and trouble sleeping, which usually makes the pain worse. Chronic pain can be caused by illnesses like arthritis or cancer, while injuries and diseases can cause changes to your body that leave you more sensitive to pain. Such changes stay in place even after you are healed from the original disease or injury. They can leave you with chronic pain syndrome. In some cases, chronic pain can also be psychogenic or psychosomatic. It is also possible to have several causes of pain overlap. The most common conditions related to this syndrome include headache, cancer, nerve pain, arthritis, back pain, and fibromyalgia. People with chronic pain often have permanently tensed muscles, a limited ability to move around, a lack of energy, or changes in appetite. All these issues can cause emotional effects like:

• depression,
• anger,
• anxiety,
• fear of re-injury.

Unfortunately, chronic pain treatment is still a huge challenge for medical specialists. It isn’t only associated with pain location and type of stimulus, but it is also correlated with a sufferer’s subjective and personal pain threshold. This is extremely hard to evaluate. This is why chronic pain treatment has become a critical worldwide health issue. 

Currently, the most common method of fighting chronic pain syndrome is medication. For example, for nerve pain, anticonvulsants are used, while various other medications, such as antidepressants, corticosteroids, muscle relaxers, opioids and many more, are used to treat a range of conditions. Some people try cognitive-behavioral therapy or counseling, acupuncture, or biofeedback etc. But, just recently, it has been discovered that virtual reality could provide a real breakthrough in the treatment of chronic pain.

What is virtual reality?

Virtual Reality is an innovative, comprehensive technologically advanced system that allows users to be fully immersed in a virtual world. The user is engaged in a virtual experience through a combination of technologies. Usually, they use a head mounted display, a rumble pad, headphones with sound and noise reduction, joystick etc. These technologies allow them to move and interact with the virtual world. It’s entirely different from just watching a movie or playing a video game or game console. Nowadays, Virtual Reality is widely used in medicine and healthcare. It moved to clinical researchers and real-life medical practitioners.

VR is used in both patient education and surgeries – surgery is performed using a robotic device, e.g. robotic arm which is controlled by a human surgeon. Also, Virtual Reality’s ability to move a patient into the virtual world can be used to create powerful simulations of the scenarios in which psychological difficulties occur. Why not use Virtual Reality in chronic pain treatment then?

How can VR help patients suffering from chronic pain?

The research run at the Oasis Center for Natural Pain Management in Maryland came up with the thesis that ‘Virtual reality is an excellent approach to pain management. It captures the mind’s attention and blocks pain signals from reaching the brain. It’s almost like a form of active hypnosis. VR provides tactile and sensory feedback and allows the patient to rally the neurotransmitter mechanisms that decrease pain.’ And this is true. More and more studies have already investigated the potential of VR in chronic pain treatment. Unlike using medications and opioids that have numerous negative side effects (and on top of that, which may be addictive), VR is a safe way to support pain management. At-home virtual reality therapy doesn’t require any prescription and it can be used anytime, anywhere in the world. All you need is the hardware and an app. The technology is even more useful now, amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

How has VR been used in chronic pain treatment so far?

So far, virtual reality has been tested as a way to treat chronic pain. It has been proven that patients who were given VR headsets and watched virtual programs and played virtual games or explored a virtual world, saw a decrease in pain intensity and pain interference with activity and stress. Interestingly, patients with the most severe pain reported the greatest benefits from using the virtual reality headsets. 

It has also been proven that virtual reality can help distract people from their pain – when patients are engaged in an immersive experience, they begin to tune out other stimuli, including their body’s pain signals. Therefore, VR programs are widely considered to be an effective and safe therapy for chronic pain treatment. They amplify the effectiveness of other forms of intervention.

How can VR change the way doctors and medical professionals deal with chronic pain?

Undoubtedly, virtual reality is a powerful weapon against various medical conditions. The technology helps patients with chronic pain syndrome; however, it is also highly beneficial for healthcare companies, doctors, physiotherapists, and medical professionals. One could say that when it comes to VR in the healthcare industry, the future is now. For example, progressive, multisession VR experiences that teach stress resilience and emotional regulation are already in use. These are linked to cloud platforms that direct the patients’ experiences throughout the experience, collecting data during each session. 

Another application is VR telehealth kits for patients with chronic pain. These are usually easy-to-follow VR apps geared towards different conditions including chronic pain management, memory decline, physical therapy, and stress and anxiety. There are also VR products aimed at helping people with anxiety disorders and substance use disorders, including in clinical rehabilitation settings. A very popular at-home virtual reality therapy for chronic pain is an immersive 360-degree experience with calming, gentle music and visual imagery that helps the user feel relaxed. The software can monitor the user’s heart rate and modify the program to provide the most effective response.

Summary

Virtual reality has produced very promising results when it comes to chronic pain treatment. Even if VR solutions are still limited due to the cost and a reluctance to embrace technology or innovation, it has become more and more accessible to medical professionals and patients. It is extremely important to make the technology affordable for more medical centers – virtual reality options are non-addictive, portable, and non-invasive. At-home virtual reality therapy for chronic pain might be a real breakthrough that will revolutionize the medical industry.

Read also how Virtual Reality transforms the lives of disabled people?

VR in medicine

There are numerous benefits of applying Virtual Reality to medicine. The technology is much more comprehensive than books and cadavers, it’s also 100% time- and case-independent. Thanks to VR in medicine, healthcare professionals can train their medical skills at any time they need to. No patients are directly involved so the training is fully safe and harmless, with no risk for the patient. On the other hand, Virtual Reality makes it possible to work on medical tasks that would be expensive or dangerous to undertake in a real setting. Virtual Reality in medicine leads to cost optimization and the general improvement of the quality of education. Currently, thanks to VR modeling, the following use cases of VR in medicine have become quite popular:

• Surgery simulations – surgeons and students can train operating in real-life environments to gain practical skills.
• Onboarding – new doctors can faster adjust to real job specifics in risk-free conditions.
• Use of medical equipment – it reduces costs and lowers the learning curve.

On top of that, Virtual Reality in medicine enables doctors and paramedics to develop automatic response behavior to low-frequency situations.

How to use Virtual Reality in medical training?

In an ideal world, real-life and VR-based training should be combined. So far, research shows that Virtual Reality solutions can bring the same results as real-life simulations. They are much cheaper though, which makes VR in medical training extremely effective. Also, Virtual Reality allows students to train in a more enjoyable and engaging way. They can acquire new skills and hone them through practice in interactive and fully safe virtual environments. In some cases, an instructor’s presence is not even required as all instructions are built inside the Virtual Reality application. Thanks to VR, students are able to visualize the interior of the human body, thus unveiling otherwise inaccessible areas. No more situations when students only practice once or twice before needing to perform a real surgical procedure – Virtual Reality provides them the ability to explore, make mistakes and learn from them. VR training can be offered using scenarios that closely mimic common surgical situations. Students can repeat all procedures multiple times to pursue perfection which is nearly impossible to achieve in a traditional school of medicine. When it comes to surgeries, Virtual Reality in medical training means watching operations as if you hold the scalpel. Technology is a way to elevate the teaching and learning experience to a whole new level.

VR in doctor training

Virtual Reality can be useful for training surgeons, doctors and nurses too. They always need to be ready to resolve numerous dilemmas in their work. Those include both practical and ethical decisions to make every single day. VR in doctor training may be useful in planning complex operations beforehand, like neurosurgical procedures. The technology helps surgeons carefully walk through the whole surgery and rehearse their planned intervention. It minimizes surprises which is a great step towards maximum safety, also during very complex operations. What does such a training look like? There is a massive load of data compiled from MRI, CT and ultrasound scans. It is then complemented by haptics and VR. In such cases, VR in doctor training is an almost real-life operation – the reconstruction feels just like the actual patient when in surgical surroundings.  While discussing VR in doctor training, we cannot forget about VR-based surgical robots. By surgical robots, we mean robotic arms controlled by human surgeons at consoles. The surgeon depends on the camera placed in the body so that the surgeon can view the area being operated on. Summing up the paragraph about VR in doctor training, it is a unique learning opportunity for doctors, surgeons and other medical professionals to be better prepared to face complex and dynamic medical situations. This is coupled with convenience and privacy, at far lower costs in terms of time and travel. The training can be repeated as many times as required.

VR in paramedic training

Skills development and maintenance for most paramedic procedures are undoubtedly challenging. The opportunities to learn and practice are very limited as paramedic procedures are often required in life-threatening situations which means they need to be delivered under stressful conditions. It turns out that VR software can also be extremely handy in paramedic training. Paramedics usually work in an environment where the pressure may be insanely high so VR might be perfect for them to develop their knowledge and clinical expertise without risking a patient’s life. No one should first face their first harsh paramedic case in the real world and, unfortunately, this has been the case for a very long time.  Virtual reality in paramedic training is usually a lesson that involves techniques that imitate prehospital patient situations. This definitely facilitates the learning and development of psychomotor skills to demonstrate critical thinking, decision-making, self-control and procedural skills without any risk. Virtual Reality in paramedic training imitates all existing possibilities and provides a rich environment where paramedics can respond realistically. It allows full immersion if the paramedic is in a virtual world with a virtual patient. The crafted VR world can be adjusted to include an endless range of situations and options. On top of that, the technology can provide feedback to paramedics during training so that they can learn from their own mistakes and gain more and more experience and skills without harming real patients.

Virtual Reality in first aid training

First aid is a medical environment where the safety and preparedness of people are of the utmost importance. Virtual Reality software places the student into a simulated first aid environment that is realistic and emotive. People can train in various, yet realistic scenarios, from a mining environment to an airplane. Let’s take a simple example: Virtual Reality puts you inside a situation and you are not told what the situation is like. Suddenly you feel what the situation is like and what the circumstances are. You have to react quickly as the speed of your response can save a life. Virtual Reality in first aid training lets you see and feel the full picture. In all cases you feel like you are inside the situation. The VR training can be fully adapted specifically for a certain person. The learning process is deeply immersive, as responses are based on genuine observations rather than prompts from an instructor. VR allows users to learn by doing that results in real capabilities.

VR in medicine – what’s next?

When it comes to VR in medical training, there is plenty of space for exploring new and experimental ways of training. The technology is becoming more refined and accessible so training without live patients will be less and less likely to happen. Now, VR helps students and doctors better understand the anatomy of the human body and the steps of various medical procedures. Through the headset, they can lay out multiple screens and decide on their point of view on operations that take place in the virtual environment. What’s next? The sky’s the limit.

Read more about VR in healthcare.