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Virtual surfing used in physical therapy

Posted on Feb 17th 2007 4:12PM by Jonathon Morgan

Filed Under: Diet & Weight Loss, Reviews & Products

Virtual reality surfing and jogging is being used to help physiotherapy patients regain their balance and, in some cases, find the confidence to walk again.

A new system developed by MOTEK, an Israeli motion simulation company, allows technicians to modify the size of the waves and the wind speed as they put patients through their paces on an imaginary ocean.

While this marks the first time this particular system has been used in medical treatments, virtual reality has been utilized by doctors for some time. It's used to help patients overcome phobias by simulating the feared experience, to aid combat soldiers in overcoming post-traumatic stress disorder, or even to distract patients undergoing chemotherapy.

So far, the MOTEK system seems to be producing better and faster results. However, it's important to note that virtual reality cannot replace the healing process, only assist it.

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1 Comment

Tags: physical therapy, PhysicalTherapy, surfing, virtual reality, VirtualReality

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

kk 2-26-2007 @ 9:51AM

First of all, I believe this is a great technological advancement that has a very bright future in the physical therapy field. With its great range of motion and requirement of the user to exercise balance, the robotic surfboard appears to have great potential to be a very effective treatment tool. It is perfect for treating patients with lower body injuries, especially those with ankle and foot impairments. The robotic surfboard could bring fun and excitement to an otherwise dull and boring treatment room. Incorporating this device into treatment programs will probably not appeal to the elderly, but children and young adults will definitely opt for it. One of the key benefits to this device and the many devices similar to it is that it allows patients to concentrate away from the pain and more effort into the treatment. Patients would ultimately forget they are even in a treatment session which would make the treatment experience that much more enjoyable. I have to agree with you that this technology cannot be a replacement of the standard treatment/healing process; it can only assist it. This is a very crucial point because many people look at these technological advancements and think that they can replace standard physical therapy treatments. They can, however, be effectively incorporated into a treatment program that a physical therapist prescribes.

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