Online
Thursday, October 24
Physical, cognitive, psychological, and behavioral impairments may result following a brain injury and significantly impact survivor functioning. Clinicians must embrace treatment methods that address multi-faceted impairments. One method gaining attention is the use of virtual reality. Available literature targeting the effectiveness of virtual reality in the brain injury population is growing. Studies have focused on executive functioning, attention, memory, balance, functional mobility, stress, and anxiety (Brasse et al., 2021; Porras et al., 2019). Positive outcomes in areas including balance, functional mobility, executive functioning, cognition, and attention have been reported (Alashram, 2019; De Luca et al., Grealy, 1999; 2023; Porras et al., 2019). As technology continues to become crucial to daily life and rehabilitation, there is a growing need to be aware of the potential for its use, its limitations, and need for continued research. Objectives: 1. To summarize the current literature focused on the use of virtual reality and the brain injury population; 2. To recognize current guidelines and recommendations regarding the use of virtual reality and brain injury; 3. To identify gaps in the available literature and corresponding treatment recommendations; 4. To analyze a case series of the use of virtual reality in long-term survivors of brain injury.