VIRTUAL-REALITY - A NEW PROSTHESIS FOR BRAIN INJURY REHABILITATION

Virtual Reality (VR) technology is a relatively new application to reh abilitation medicine, yet it offers considerable potential to achieve significant successes in assessment, treatment and improved outcome, t hereby increasing our knowledge of neuroplasticity. The capabilities o f VR are especially evident in neurological rehabilitation, where cogn itive and behavioural problems often interact with physical impairment s to reduce the overall level of functioning and interaction. The need for effective interventions in neurological rehabilitation demands co mmunication and collaboration between disciplines. This paper presents some of the current areas of the clinical applications of VR, emphasi sing the link between experimental evidence on recovery after brain da mage and the clinical problems encountered in a ward setting.