Healthcare is becoming one of the sectors where virtual reality finds its broadest application. From simulations of surgical techniques and doctors’ training with virtual patients to the treatment of phobias and post-traumatic stress disorders, virtual reality is changing the rules of medicine and healthcare assistance, gaining more and more ground.
Also drug development is involved. In the cure of some pathologies, studies are ongoing to compare the effectiveness of new technologies with more traditional approaches. Not to mention the virtual simulations allowing to predict the effects of new therapies before testing them on humans. Actually, the application of virtual reality on healthcare seems to have no limits. It can be used, for instance, in the patients’ rehab after amputation, or to support autistic patients in social intercourse. It is also used in the treatment of migraine and appetite disorders, to fight drug and alcohol abuse as well as to improve balance and movements in post-stroke patients. Finally, virtual reality finds new applications also in psychological support. Some European hospitals are testing its use to distract children undergoing painful surgical procedures.
Virtual healthcare is growing
