17. The proven process of putting VR Vitalis into practice

Many greetings to you current or future colleagues.

I work as a physiotherapist in a hospital and we have had virtual therapy available since about autumn 2023. For the first year I had VR available in the inpatient rehabilitation department, when I more or less familiarised myself with the technology and tested on myself and the first patients what such therapy entails, what it offers and what is needed to use it. I must admit that here I did not have much space to devote to it at all, because I had many other responsibilities with patients.

Then they moved me and the VR to the outpatient clinic, where they gave me time windows for this, so that I can see 4 patients every day after lunch for 30 min (these are mostly outpatients, but inpatients also have the opportunity to come to me). To make the VR work properly, it was necessary to adjust the location of the internet router closer to my office. Speaking for myself, I can say that if you have sufficient connectivity, a defined space and a defined time only to perform VR, you are all set :-).

I have patients for classical rehabilitation in the morning and VR in the afternoon and today, after half a year, I have to admit that it is an absolutely ideal combination. Of course, our patients also have conventional physiotherapy or occupational therapy in addition to VR, which is necessary to get the right foundation of movement patterns that I can build on with VR. To date (within 6 months) I have had 34 patients undergo outpatient VR therapy, some are still continuing, others have already completed the therapy and I have only encountered one negative reaction when the patient was nauseous and did not want to continue, even though she enjoyed the virtual therapy and found it useful. Quoting another enthusiastic patient, "The cups have improved my shoulder rotation" - and she brought this up at the doctor's appointment :-). I don't know if I'm just lucky, or if it's a widespread effect, but our patients are excited by VR therapy, motivated to complete tasks, absorbed in their new surroundings, and at the end of the session usually say, "Already? This is a breeze!", regardless of age or gender.

Finally, I would like to add that when two people do the same thing, it is not the same thing. VR therapy should also be approached with sophistication, seriousness and precision, and the patient should not get the impression that they have come here just to play. It is necessary to correct the patient in every chosen activity, to guide him correctly in movement stereotypes and not to let him just wave his arms.

I keep my fingers crossed, with regards Mgr. Veronika Horká

AGEL Prostějov Hospital