Word Outline

Virtual Reality : Helping the physically and mentally wounded

Walter Martynenko

Introduction

Application

Physiotherapy

Combat Veterans

Technology

Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN

Developed by motion simulation company MOTEK

A Virtual Reality (VR ) system to aide in the healing process of injured and disable people

Uses sensors stuck to the body of a patient to monitor vital signs and patient movement

Employs a Sight simulation of Waves and using a series of steps , a patient steers a boat through the waves

It has been used for research

in other countries , but Israel is the first place where CAREN has been incorporated into medical treatments

Has a price tag of 600 ,000

Combat Trauma Theater

Used by the US government

Employs 4 of the 5 senses in a normal virtual reality scene and then introduces combat scenes

Helps veterans deal with Post Traumatic Stress Dis

Benefits for Physiotherapy Patients

CAREN is employed in this function

Incorporated physical movement

Patient moves up and down a platform while watching a VR scene and being exposed to audio stimuli

Improves balance

Technicians can control the size of the waves and wind speed , monitoring patients ' movements and vital signs through sensors stuck to their bodies

Distraction from pain and injury

VR immersion removes patients from the here and now ' of their pain

Multi tasking to involve non injured areas of the body also take the focus off the injury itself

Limited to natural healing process

A plateau can be reached due to the time it takes for the actual physical healing process

Benefits to our combat veterans

Why it may be necessary to use VR

Avoidance is normal

Statistics from article about those that completely deny memories

Related illnesses from continued denial of memories

Alcoholism

Depression

Substance abuse

Flashbacks

Bad relationships

Breaking down the barriers - The Combat Trauma Theater

Sight

Normal scenes

Wartime scenes

Sounds

Use of chopper sounds to trigger memories in Vietnam vets

Use of gunfire and explosions

Use of human voices calling out for help

Smells

A smell machine from Envirodine Studios connects to a USB port on the PC running the virtual reality . On cue , it emits eight smells associated with Iraq and war

Scents generated by the Envirodine machine include Iraqi spices , burning rubber , cordite , garbage , body odor , smoke , diesel fuel and gunpowder which it transmits to participants through a series of fans and air compressors

Touch

Use of subwoofers to produce vibrations

Movement of seats

Statistics

Quote - . virtual reality-based exposure therapy has led to significant reductions in PTSD in the eight patients

. patients reported a decrease in PTSD symptoms ranging from 15 percent to 67 percent

Quote - Rizzo 's virtual reality has already been installed at 15 Army and Marine Corps sites . By the end of February , Rizzo said he will have completed 20 case studies . In addition to those installations , Rizzo and his team took their virtual Iraq to the real Iraq for user feedback Rizzo said he believes the military services should use virtual reality in Iraq...