When rehabilitation passes through virtual reality

It is not a video game, but it behaves like one: it is a VR device connected to a gamified virtual reality rehabilitation platform for both post-surgery and post-stroke treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS. It was realised by Bended, a start-up based in Ancona, which brings with it the experience gained with Tech4Care, an innovative SME and spin-off of the Marche Polytechnic University, which operates in the field of assistive technologies and innovative care services for frail and non-self-sufficient people.

"The platform is the result of research projects carried out in collaboration with excellent clinics in our area," explains CEO Paolo Olivetti, "and offers simple management of rehabilitation programmes dedicated to the upper limbs, a library of fun and playful rehabilitation exercises, and comprehensive training, technical assistance, and progressive expansion and updating of the library of exergames according to the rehabilitation plan and needs. This allows physiotherapists to help people improve both their physical abilities, by providing increasingly punctual and personalised therapies, and their cognitive abilities, because among the various immersive environments there is a supermarket and the patient is called upon to virtually place products on the shelves respecting an established order. "The rehabilitation exercises can be performed either at home or in the outpatient clinic, depending on the rehabilitation plan and needs," adds Olivetti. "And our software application, which adapts well to any type of visor, is already on the market after having been tested in several hospital and rehabilitation facilities around the world, with over 1,500 sessions performed on patients.