Emily Daviss PT, DPT 5/14/25 Emily Daviss PT, DPT 5/14/25

Combating Depression with Virtual Reality: Emerging Therapies and Outcomes

Mental health challenges are often an invisible but profound consequence of injury, illness, and trauma. As a physical therapist, I see firsthand how patients grappling with new limitations often experience significant emotional distress. The loss of independence, changes in lifestyle, and disruption of personal identity can contribute to feelings of depression. Supporting patients' mental health is not only compassionate care; it is essential to achieving the best possible physical recovery outcomes. Virtual reality (VR) is emerging as a powerful tool in mental health support, offering new, evidence-based pathways for healing and hope.

Emily Daviss PT, DPT 5/7/25 Emily Daviss PT, DPT 5/7/25

Bringing Back Independence: How Virtual Reality Is Helping Stroke Survivors Reclaim Their Lives

As we recognize National Stroke Awareness Month, it’s the perfect time to shine a light on the evolving tools that are giving stroke survivors new ways to rebuild their independence. One of the most exciting advancements is immersive technology, particularly Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR).

Mai Nguyen 3/5/25 Mai Nguyen 3/5/25

AVRwell at APTA CSM 2025

The APTA CSM conference in Houston was a whirlwind. It happened February 13 through the 15th. Three days packed with back-to-back demos, insightful conversations, and some really good feedback from PTs, students, and professors, as well as industry leaders. We left feeling inspired, a little exhausted, and more excited than ever about the future of XR in rehab.

Emily Daviss PT, DPT 2/26/25 Emily Daviss PT, DPT 2/26/25

Virtual Reality in Pain Management: A Breakthrough for Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation

In recent years, Virtual Reality (VR) has emerged as an innovative tool in healthcare, particularly in pain management for musculoskeletal disorders. As a healthcare professional, I have witnessed firsthand how VR can significantly reduce pain levels, enhance rehabilitation participation, and even eliminate the need for pain medication in some cases. Recent research supports these observations, highlighting VR’s effectiveness as a non-invasive, drug-free alternative to traditional pain relief methods.

Emily Daviss PT, DPT 2/5/25 Emily Daviss PT, DPT 2/5/25

Empowering Healthcare Facilities with VR: The Key to Ownership, Customization, and Better Patient Outcomes

When healthcare facilities are able to own and manage their own hardware, they gain full control over the software and the content they’re using. This flexibility is key to tailoring VR to the specific challenges faced in a given facility, whether it’s accommodating older patients, creating specialized rehabilitation routines for stroke patients, or training clinicians for high-pressure situations (Halbig et al., 2023). Giving healthcare professionals the ability to choose the software that best fits their patient population and treatment goals helps eliminate the frustrations of all-in-one solutions that don’t fully meet the facility’s needs.