Virtual reality (VR) games are on the rise with their never before seen technology. Brands such as ‘Oculus’ are one of the better-known ones, and this tech space is continuing to develop. Strapping on a headset can send you into a frenzy of places with people and things that you may never have imagined were right at your fingertips! While it may seem like VR is just a cool, advanced, and fun way to play games with a sense of actually being there, there are a lot of health benefits that go along with it-some may even be surprising! With the possibility of how we view the world around us, let’s take a look at 10 health benefits of virtual reality devices:
- Helps relieve social anxiety: Virtual reality has begun to take a storm in health settings, one including a method of relieving social anxiety. With endless possibilities in social settings, VR has been used to create scenarios where those dealing with social anxiety disorder (SAD) could be treated. By creating avatars with different dialogs and facial expressions, it could create a reality that feels real while keeping the patient calm knowing that it is virtual and not reality. A study was done to show how virtual reality therapy was conducted to see the effectiveness of VR usage on SAD and the results are promising.
- Promotes circulation: Getting in motion is a great way to promote blood flow and circulation. One great aspect of VR is that it gets you up and moving. Becoming popular in health promotion, studies have been done to view the positive effects of the realism connected to VR since the entire environment around you is changed. Conclusions show the positive effects on health and a good way for users to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
- Health industry education: Virtual reality is changing the world of healthcare due to its realism. While it’s not only useful for those working in the healthcare field, it’s also great for the patients. Realistic simulations can be used to train and teach students in things such as surgery, and it is only growing and developing more and more each day. For the patients, the healthcare provider can use VR to give a visual representation of operations that will be performed on them so they can get a clear picture of what is going to be done for them.
- Reduce stress: Studies have been done to show the effectiveness of VR on stress reduction. Since real recreational activities are great ways to reduce stress, using VR to simulate situations such as that is an accessible and cost effective way to reduce stress. Not only is VR a good method to reduce stress, but the same activities that are doing so can also help you create a sense of mindfulness!
- Improves sleep quality: A study was conducted to see the relationship between sleep quality in those with Parkinson’s disease and VR use. The study found participants with Parkinsons’ playing VR games saw an improvement in their sleep quality which in turn improved their motor skills. Another study found that using VR to create a relaxing atmosphere is a great tool to facilitate sleep.
- Muscle mass retention: VR is becoming increasingly popular with physical activity. With the ultra-realistic simulations of environments and objects, VR can be used to create scenarios where physical activity is at its prime. With advancements continuing to develop, people are getting the best experience with their workouts since sensors can pick up the slightest discrepancies with things such as form. Studies found that using VR for physical activity decreased body fat and increased muscle mass.
- May help cure phobias: VR has been used to successfully treat phobias. For example, a study was done to show its effectiveness on acrophobia, the fear of heights. VR is a great way to do this since it is so realistic, every head turn would create a new image, as if they were looking around themselves in a high setting. This is something that is becoming popularized under the name VR exposure therapy (VRET), the same method being used to treat social anxiety disorder mentioned previously.
- Pain relief: VR is increasingly being used by medical professionals to treat pain in patients. When professionals are performing medical procedures on patients, discomfort and pain are often associated with them. However, with the help of VR, patients are able to experience analgesia without the use of medication. When patients are allowed the use of VR during procedures, stress and pain are found to decrease since they are fully immersed in the virtual reality of their headset.
- Improve balance & coordination: A study found the positive effects of VR on balance and coordination improvement. When using VR, the prefrontal, parietal cortical, and other motor cortical areas of the brain are being used- the ones that manage balance and coordination. Evidence is continuing to show the improvement of neurological function for those who have a damaged neurological system by activating the cerebral cortex allowing optimal balance.
- Increase range of motion: Similar to balance and coordination, VR is a great method to work on increasing range of motion in patients. A study was done on burn victims who lost range of motion due to their traumas. Those who received therapy through VR found they experienced less pain during their therapy sessions which allowed them to have wider ranges of motion. Another study was observed for stroke survivors who underwent VRET to simulate exercises they could perform with results showing an increase in range of motion.
