XRehab is one of the 10 projects selected in the first CORTEX2 Open Call. The project team is developing a VR platform to support both hospital-based and at-home rehabilitation by adapting to patients’ motor and psycho-cognitive skills.
Keep reading to learn more about the team’s work and what they’ve achieved so far.
Q: How would you describe XRehab in one sentence?
A: The XRehab project seeks to develop an adaptable VR simulation platform for hospital and home rehabilitation, enhancing personalisation, accessibility, and collaboration to improve treatment outcomes and quality of life for patients with neuromuscular and neurodegenerative diseases.
Q: What problem are you solving? What makes your solution unique?
A: The XRehab project offers a groundbreaking virtual reality (VR) platform that is versatile, adaptable, and accessible across all existing VR systems, providing both immersive and semi-immersive experiences tailored to individual psycho-cognitive and motor skills.
Unlike traditional rehabilitation systems, XRehab simplifies the creation of personalised VR environments, even for non-expert developers, and is designed with future home-based use in mind. By fostering collaboration between healthcare professionals and technical experts, it enables personalised treatment, remote accessibility, and enhanced patient engagement, ultimately addressing the social and economic burdens associated with these diseases.
Q: What are XRehab’s main objectives?
A:
- Develop VR simulation scenarios for neuromuscular patients
- Design a system that adapts to the psycho-cognitive and motor skills of patients
- Increase accessibility and remote usability
- Facilitate collaboration between health and technical experts
- Improve patient engagement and experience
- Reduce social and economic burdens
CORTEX2 support programme progress
Q: What have you achieved so far?
A: The initial phase of the XRehab project has laid a robust foundation for the development of an innovative VR-based rehabilitation platform for patients with neuromuscular and neurodegenerative diseases.
Through a comprehensive approach that combined literature review, clinical insights, and technical analysis, we have successfully achieved several critical milestones:
- User requirements: We have identified key user interface requirements and preferred VR scenarios based on patient feedback and clinical expertise in order to meet the specific needs and preferences of our target patient population.
- Evaluation metrics: We have established a comprehensive set of evaluation tools, including questionnaires to assess technology acceptance, simulator sickness, user engagement, anxiety levels, and emotional responses. Such questionnaires will provide valuable data for both clinicians and patients to assess the impacts of our VR interventions.
- Technical specifications: We have successfully outlined the technical requirements for integrating WEBXR assets from the CORTEX2 platform into Unity, paving the way for the development of effective VR-based experiences.
- CORTEX2 integration plan: A clear, step-by-step integration plan has been developed and validated, ensuring smooth incorporation of the CORTEX2 framework into our development process.
Q: How is participating in CORTEX2 supporting XRehab?
A: The programme has provided us with access to a network of experts in VR technology, healthcare, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Further, CORTEX2 has fostered connections with like-minded innovators and professionals, facilitating knowledge exchange and potential partnerships that align with our project’s objectives. Lastly, the programme has offered us a space to present our ideas, receive valuable feedback, and validate our project’s direction.
Q: What are your next steps within the programme?
A:
- Developing and refining VR scenarios based on the identified themes: nature-based environments, activity-oriented simulations, and gamified exercises
- Implementing the technical integration plan to create functional prototypes within the CORTEX2 framework
- Patient recruitment and conducting initial user testing with patients to gather feedback and refine our approach
- Exploring strategies for long-term evaluation to complement our short-term assessment tools
Learn more about XRehab and stay updated on its progress!
Want to explore more XR innovation? Browse all our supported projects on the CORTEX2 website: