Rehab Reimagined Blogs & Research
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.
Leveling Up in Real Life: How Gamified XR is Helping Us Heal
Let’s be honest: healing can be boring and frustrating.
Whether you're recovering from an injury, dealing with stress, or just trying to improve your wellness game, the path to feeling better often feels like grinding for XP in a game with no storyline, no rewards, and way too many loading screens (hello, waiting rooms).
But what if recovery could feel like playing your favorite game? What if you could level up your real life health stats while battling digital dragons, tracking turtles, or shooting targets in a virtual world?
Welcome to the world of gamified XR (Extended Reality), where physical and mental wellness gets a power-up, gamer-style.
XR in Rehab: What’s New in 2025 and Why It Matters for Reimbursement
XR is reshaping rehabilitation, no longer a novel tool, it’s evolving into a core component of modern physical and occupational therapy. As clinics grow more comfortable with immersive tech, 2025 marks a pivotal moment: the conversation is shifting from “does it work?” to “how do we pay for it?”
Exploring the Future of XR in Rehab: Thank You, A.T. Still University
This past week, I had the incredible opportunity to speak at A.T. Still University and engage with a passionate group of future clinicians about a subject close to my heart: the role of extended reality (XR) in rehabilitation. I want to extend my deepest thanks to the students and faculty who welcomed me so warmly. It was not only an honor to teach but also a joy to witness the curiosity, insight, and enthusiasm that filled the room.
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).
Harnessing Virtual Reality for Parkinson’s Disease Rehabilitation: A Game-Changer in Balance and Mobility
As a professional working with PD patients, I have personally witnessed the benefits of VR and augmented reality (AR) in improving balance and stride length. Notably, I have observed carryover effects in posture following VR-based reaching activities, particularly with overhead and cross-body reaching. These improvements align with growing research that supports VR as an engaging and effective rehabilitation tool.
The Future of Physical Therapy: How Virtual Reality and Gamification Are Revolutionizing Rehabilitation
A recent systematic review by Calderone et al. (2025) found that VR and gamification significantly enhance rehabilitation outcomes for individuals with neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) by improving motivation, engagement, and adherence to therapy. As more clinicians recognize the importance of patient engagement, the use of immersive technologies in therapy is growing, transforming how rehabilitation is delivered.
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.
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.
Clinical Innovations in Virtual Reality: Insights from the Clinical Practice Guideline on Locomotor Function
VR is redefining rehabilitation by combining engagement, effectiveness, and patient-centered care. Its ability to deliver immersive, task-specific training environments enhances recovery outcomes, improves patient confidence, and reduces therapy barriers. With continued advancements, VR is poised to play an even greater role in personalized medicine, providing innovative solutions that empower patients and transform healthcare.
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.
From Boredom to Motivation: Revolutionizing Rehabilitation with Virtual Reality Therapy
Revolutionizing Rehabilitation with Virtual Reality Therapy