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People with multiple sclerosis often lose fine motor skills, coordination and confidence in their movements. According to physicians, however, the success of rehabilitation depends primarily on regular exercise. "Repeated movement is essential for rehabilitation, but patients often find it monotonous. Virtual environments help them stay focused and improve their engagement in therapy," explained Kamila Řasová from the Third Faculty of Medicine at Charles University.

A new system developed by computer scientists at the Faculty of Applied Sciences of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen (FAV UWB) transforms routine rehabilitation exercises into interactive tasks. Patients may be asked to follow a prescribed trajectory or collect virtual balls, for example. Wearing a VR headset, they perform the exercises while sensors attached to their body continuously track the movement of their hands, torso and head. "The software evaluates not only whether the patient completed the task, but also how accurately and correctly it was performed, all in real time. We can measure movement quality and adapt the therapy to each patient's specific needs based on the results," explained Libor Váša from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at FAV UWB.

Another advantage of the technology is its ability to record and monitor rehabilitation outcomes over the long term, allowing therapists to track patients' progress. "This new approach will improve upper limb function, trunk stability and, above all, sitting quality, which is crucial for our clients," said Kamila Voňková from St. Joseph's Home near Dvůr Králové nad Labem. Therapists at the facility are currently becoming familiar with the technology and will begin using it with clients in September.

The effectiveness of the system will also be investigated in a new research project. "The study includes blood tests and MRI brain scans performed before and after therapy. Quite surprisingly, our preliminary results suggest that blood samples may reveal whether a patient received conventional rehabilitation or trained in virtual reality," added Libor Váša.

In the future, the developers are considering adapting the system for home use. At present, however, it is intended primarily for healthcare facilities staffed by trained therapists. Virtual rehabilitation is already being tested at Královské Vinohrady University Hospital and Thomayer University Hospital in Prague. In addition to the Faculty of Applied Sciences at the University of West Bohemia, physicians and therapists from the Third Faculty of Medicine at Charles University have contributed their expertise to developing the virtual reality system.