Rehabilitation: innovations and challenges in the use of virtual reality technologies

Virtual rehabilitation has been the focus of considerable research for many years, but the recent upsurge in consumer-ready virtual reality hardware and software has led to an increase in interest in its use in a variety of clinical and home settings. Balancing the upsurge in demand for innovative technological healthcare tools is the need for a credible evidence base for its use and guidance for practitioners on which systems and applications are suitable for different patient populations and rehabilitation goals. This promising branch of healthcare is already being used to benefit many patients in homes and clinics around the world, but it is evident that there is still much more to learn if we are to continue to push the boundaries of clinical innovation and excellence. In this book we present recent research addressing a number of these important topics, adding to our understanding of the complex issues and clinical considerations in virtual rehabilitation research and application.