Virtual Reality Turns Rehabilitation Into an Experience
www.posiv.cz ǀ 33
Startupová společnost VR LIFE vznikla v roce 2018
a stojí za vývojem systému VR Vitalis. Jedná se
o rehabilitace ve VR, které se s úspěchem používají
ve zdravotnictví i sociálních službách (dokonce i v
některých rmách) v ČR i zahraničí.
The start-up VR LIFE was founded in 2018 and is
behind the development of the VR Vitalis system. These
VR-based rehabilitaon methods are successfully used
in healthcare as well as in social services, and even
in some companies, both in the CZ and abroad.
Volný, M.D., Ph.D., FESO, MUDr. Štefan Reguli, Ph.D.,
Ing. Lucie Honzíková, Ph.D., MUDr. Šárka Baníková
a její tým fyzioterapeutů a spousta dalších.
Kde technologie pomáhá
Máme prodaných cca 80 licencí, číslo se naštěstí pra-
videlně mění směrem nahoru. S VR Vitalis se cvičí sa-
mozřejmě v České republice, na Slovensku, V Polsku,
Pobaltí, ve Slovinsku, na Ukrajině a nově i ve Spojených
arabských emirátech.
Plány do budoucna
Plánujeme jak rozšíření, tak nové typy terapií a mno-
hem více. Nerada bych rozepisovala podrobnosti, ale
intenzivně pracujeme na nových projektech, které bu-
dou pomáhat v dalších oblastech lidského zdraví.
Virtual Reality Turns Rehabilitaon
Into an Experience
Virtual reality (VR) is transforming rehabilitaon into an engaging experience. The VR Vitalis system,
developed under the leadership of Mgr. Jana Trdá, Ph.D., oers paents not only more eecve
therapy but also joy in movement and a sense of achievement. The playful form of exercise,
customised environments, and strong movaonal eect make virtual rehabilitaon a tool that
is reshaping established pracces in healthcare.
Playing as Therapy
Patients experience fun, satisfaction, and most
importantly a sense of accomplishment.
How exactly? To them, it feels like a game
– carefully designed by experts, but still
a game. For example, catching butterflies in a
net, putting together pictures, connecting
numbers, or guessing images.
They find themselves in an environment
of their choice by the sea, in space, in the
forest, in the desert where they carry out
exercises according to the given instructions.
And because virtual reality, when well
designed, triggers what is known as the
immersive effect, patients exercise more
intensively and for longer, which means
results appear significantly sooner. Naturally,
we also incorporate gamification elements,
making each task as engaging as possible.
This, in turn, further motivates patients.
A Unique Rehabilitation System
When it comes to standard rehabilitation
systems, the key differences lie in immersion
in exercise and patient motivation.
Compared with other virtual reality solutions,
we were, for instance, the first to introduce
lower-limb rehabilitation. Our patients can
exercise either with controllers or without
them. They have the choice and can select
their environment independently of the
exercise itself.
Virtual Reality Versus
Traditional Physiotherapy
Thanks to virtual reality, the immersive effect
drives patients to greater engagement,
making rehabilitation up to 40% more
effective than traditional physiotherapy. Pain
perception during exercise is reduced by as
much as 50% and motivation levels increase
significantly – by up to 60%. At the same time,
it eases the workload of physiotherapists,
who no longer need to supervise, guide,
or physically assist patients as much.
The whole process becomes both mentally
and physically more pleasant.
Experts Behind the Development
of the Application
There are many of them, and I’m a little
worried I might forget someone. Let
me at least mention those who were most
involved: doc. MUDr. Michal Filip, Ph.D.,
MBA, Mgr. Marcela Dabrowská, Ph.D.,
Assoc. Prof. Ondřej Volný, M.D., Ph.D.,
FESO, MUDr. Štefan Reguli, Ph.D., Ing.
Lucie Honzíková, Ph.D., MUDr. Šárka
Baníková and her team of physiotherapists
– and many others.
Where the Technology Helps
We have sold around 80 licences so far,
and thankfully the number is steadily
rising. VR Vitalis is already being used
in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland,
the Baltic states, Slovenia, Ukraine,
and most recently also in the United Arab
Emirates.
Plans for the Future
We are preparing both expansions
and new types of therapies, and also
much more. I would prefer not to go into
detail, but we are working intensively
on new projects that will support other
areas of human health.
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