Underwater VR games can help patients with rehabilitation

YiViAn has previously reported that virtual reality can be used as a treatment tool to help people with acrophobia and people with disabilities. Now virtual reality is being used as a means of physical therapy, and this time it will be done underwater.

John Quarles, a computer professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, is using the technology to help patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). For patients with multiple sclerosis, rehabilitation programs may be tedious. Quarles was well aware because he was diagnosed with the disease 11 years ago. The classmates in his class are paying attention to game development and virtual reality, but he decided to use virtual reality to help these patients.

Quarles produced a game called Shark Punch. The patient will wear a VR head display and a floating tube. When the patient is drowning, they will see a virtual shark circling around you, and you will try your taste. The patient needs to fight back with a fist. If you can't hit it, your sensor will let you know that the whole game will become more interesting and fun.

Many patients with multiple sclerosis can make their condition worse when they exercise. This is why underwater physiotherapy is used because it can degrade their body temperature and help maintain balance. But with the virtual reality game, the treatment is less boring.

Earlier this year, Quarles experienced the game with some patients, and at the same time, he will test it on other patients to improve the performance of the game. He hopes the game will also help patients who need rehabilitation after surgery.

Quarles hopes to have more games like Shark Punch on the market to help those patients who need underwater treatment.