Applications And Benefits Of Virtual Reality In Healthcare
Are you scared of heights? What about needles, injections, or getting prepared for a major surgery? That doesn’t sound pleasant, right? This is where Virtual Reality (VR) is helping the medical world.
What is Virtual Reality?
Virtual reality, as the name suggests, is ‘near-reality’. Used exclusively in gaming, VR involves an interactive computer-generated simulation of images that can be viewed with the help of a VR gear or a headset.
In the medical domain, VR is broadly being used in:
- Treatment of phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), phantom limb pain (missing limb pain)
- Radiotherapy
- Pain management
- Computer-assisted surgery
- Easing the anxiety of patients before surgery
- Speeding up the recovery of stroke patients
- Telemedicine
- Education
The 3 major applications of virtual reality that is currently being used in medical science are :
#1 Knocking down phobias
Many Psychiatrists and therapists around the globe are helping people overcome their fears with the help of VR.
Psious Toolsuite is a professional tool that helps mental health professionals cure people suffering from phobias, such as acrophobia (fear of heights), arachnophobia (fear of spiders), glossophobia (fear of public speaking), and social anxiety.
During VR therapy, the medical practitioners are in complete control of the VR suite, while the patient receives his/ her therapy through 360-degree experience. For instance, a person who has a fear of heights might be exposed to virtual heights with the help of a 360-degree video through the VR headset. The aim is to help the patient overcome their fear and face real-life situations.
#2 Improving hospitalization experience
Janice is 5. She is being taken to the operation theatre for an appendectomy. She is panicked by the environment around her – masked doctors, huge machines, needles, parents not being around, and a totally unfamiliar room”. Virtual reality can change unpleasant experiences that not only children but even adults face in a situation like this.
With the help of VR, the patient may be transported into a beautiful world of flowers, mountains, and rivers. He/she can watch their favorite cartoon, or could virtually visit their dream destination, while the doctor performs surgery. Patients barely notice the scalpel, blood, or stitches when they are engrossed in watching something delightful.
#3 Promoting faster stroke recovery
It takes a long time for a person to recover from a stroke or a major brain injury. The earlier the recovery, the higher the chances of regaining bodily functions. VR is now helping stroke survivors to recuperate at a faster pace. MindMotionPro is a VR program that allows patients to practice lifting their arms or moving their fingers.
The program motivates the patients to perform movements even when they can’t do it for real. Multiple trials to move their hands may result in disappointment, but the mental effort is huge. They try to train their brain, by giving it some exercise. This results in faster recovery of their traumatized nervous system.
For any query related to phobias and stress, consult a Psychologist at Ask a Doctor 24x7.
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Disclaimer: Information provided on this page is not intended to substitute for proper medical advice provided by your healthcare professional. This is only for informational purposes.
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