Impact VR lab has been creating virtual reality scenarios for the healthcare sector since 2013.

This lab is centred around creating engaging experiences for healthcare that are clinically tested. This leading work on physical rehabilitation incorporates fully immersive and interactive in-game elements that replicate physiotherapy exercises such as stretches, push-ups and rotations.

We believe engaging content can aid rehabilitation and reduce pain.

How we work

Impact VR is a multidisciplinary team that includes the key clinical professionals and patients for each study. Our goal is to design fun experiences that reproduce clinical interventions through gameplay.

We specialise in capturing movement through sensors, for interaction with virtual reality adapted to the area in which rehabilitation is needed.

Collaborative design is central to each study, and unmet needs are discovered through extensive discussions with clinicians and observations of conventional therapies.

The iterative nature of game development means that all our scenarios are play tested throughout to ensure that the experience is fit for purpose. We use quantitative and qualitative techniques to assess the impact of the intervention on aspects relevant to patients' recovery, such as pain and quality of life.

Outcomes

Through our projects we have developed a set of immersive, interactive VR techniques and games that have considerably improved the health, wellbeing and lifestyles of children and adults affected by neurological and musculoskeletal conditions, orthopaedic trauma, and chronic pain.

The perceived benefits have been shown through quantitative techniques, where users have rated the VR rehabilitation system as less painful and difficult than conventional rehabilitation.

In addition, patients, relatives and clinical staff have testified to enhanced satisfaction and greater freedom from pain. You can read some of their testimonials on our project pages.