Rehab Reimagined Blogs & Research
Breathing, Relaxation, and Pain Distraction: Evidence-Based Approaches in VR
In practice, I have seen this effect firsthand. One patient, confined to bed and relying on narcotic pain medication, initially resisted therapy because his pain was overwhelming. Once immersed in a distraction-based VR environment, his focus shifted entirely. His breathing slowed, his muscles softened, and his expression changed. Within minutes, his reported pain dropped from a 9 to a 2. When the nurse returned with his next medication dose, he declined it, saying he finally felt ready to get up and walk. This moment captured what the data shows: distraction through immersion is not avoidance; it is engagement through relief.
What Traditional Rehab Gets Right and Where XR Can Help Bridge the Gaps
After 14 years in the clinic, I’ll be the first to say: traditional rehab works. I’ve seen firsthand how skilled therapy changes lives. I’ve also seen the barriers: limited time, fatigue, disengagement, and access challenges. That is why I believe XR is not here to replace what already works; it is here to build on it. With the right design, XR can extend therapy beyond the walls of the clinic, make practice more engaging, and open the door to possibilities we could not reach before. I am confident that the future of rehab lies in this blend of proven foundations and innovative tools, and that future looks incredibly hopeful.
The Art of the First Session: What We Learn from Watching Patients Enter XR for the First Time
There’s a moment, right after the headset slips on, when everything changes.
A quiet gasp. Eyes widen as they take in the immersive world around them. The patient turns their head, scanning every corner of the new environment. Excitement replaces hesitation. A hand reaches forward, testing possibility. In that instant, motivation stirs, the body leans in, ready to try, to accomplish what once felt out of reach in the real world.
At AVRwell, we’ve come to treasure this moment. It happens during that very first XR session, when a patient steps into immersive therapy for the first time. In those first few minutes, we see more than awe; we see the spark of possibility. And in that spark, we learn how to build better tools, for this person, and for every patient who will follow.
The Best Feedback We’ve Ever Gotten From a Patient
In the world of rehabilitation, we measure success in small steps: improved range of motion, better balance, reduced pain, improved independence, renewed focus. But sometimes, the most powerful outcomes can’t be charted on a graph. Sometimes, they come in the form of a simple, heartfelt phrase from a patient who’s just turned a corner.
One of those moments will stay with us forever.
“I feel capable again.”
Those four words came from a man who had every reason to believe he wouldn’t feel that way again.
The New Age of XR in Healthcare: How AVRwell Is Redefining Rehabilitation
AVRwell was founded by a team of clinicians, developers, and XR industry veterans with deep experience designing therapeutic tools for hospitals and clinics. Our mission is to create immersive content that is not only engaging, but also informed by clinical research and rooted in principles that support real recovery.
Introducing the AVRwell XR Relief Suite
We’re excited to announce that the XR Relief Suite is now available for facilities and XR health platforms managing devices through MDMs like ArborXR and ManageXR.
Originally developed by our team at Penumbra in collaboration with clinicians at the VA, and deployed across VA facilities, these apps are now accessible to providers and platforms on Quest 3 and 3S.