JOGO Health Private Limited,
1/1,11th Cross st., Shastri Nagar, Adyar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600020.
How much has the world changed since digital technology entered our lives? Our eyes forget to blink lest we miss something that plays on the digital screen in front of us. Our focus has become fleeting as we glance at texts or notifications. Sometimes, we prefer to conserve energy by simply using our thumbs to scroll through hours of thirty-second reels. The digital domination is so distracting that we sometimes forget to breathe.
However, not everything about digital technology is harmful. Virtual Reality(VR) in digital therapeutics is a boon for healthcare professionals. JOGO’s pain management clinic in Chennai harnesses VR to treat various ailments.
This article explains the use of VR in digital therapeutics and its role in transforming patient outcomes.
Although VR in digital therapeutics is gaining traction, its potential is yet to be explored. A study by Fortune Business Insights predicts the CAGR for this market to reach 38.7% by 2029. The value of VR in healthcare within the years 2022-2029 is expected to reach $628 million. In 2022, the value of digital therapeutics alone was $4.5 million.
VR-based therapies have considerable potential, making them worth the investment. Here are some significant roles of VR and digital therapeutics in treating several ailments.
A fine example of VR enabling patient engagement was when 91% of patients reported satisfaction with in-person care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Doctors can improve patient engagement through game-like elements such as social interaction and personalisation through virtual group therapy sessions. Patient engagement can be easily achieved by drafting more tangible and straightforward objectives.
VR in digital therapeutics can lead to better outcomes through data-driven insights, personalised care, data-driven insights and cost-cutting. Moreover, depending on the treatment progress, VR treatments can be modified. For instance, doctors can adjust treatment by knowing the disease symptoms using real-time data. The treatment cost can also be reduced if Virtual Reality is implemented correctly. One such example is VR-enhanced online group psychotherapy, which is more cost-effective than direct psychotherapy sessions.
Pain management is perhaps the fastest-growing avenue in VR-based digital therapeutics because of the treatment outcomes it demonstrates. VR-based tools are proving to be successful in treating acute and chronic pain. Conversely, VR-based digital neurotherapeutics show incredible potential in improving bodily functions and activity in stroke patients.
Doctors can also use VR to simulate exercises to alleviate pain and monitor physiological responses with real-time feedback.
Also Read: Communication After Stroke: the Common Speech Disorders
VR in digital therapeutics has created promising treatments for various mental health issues like phobias, eating disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorders, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. VR is predominantly used in exposure therapy, where the person is exposed to fear-inducing situations to help them overcome their fears. In such scenarios, VR offers a simulated setting under a controlled environment to gradually explore the stimuli and overcome the fear.
VR-assisted cognitive behavioural therapy amalgamates traditional cognitive behavioural therapy with VR elements. This technology created immersive environments that challenge cognitive patterns. This approach is proven to positively impact patients with anxiety and depression.
VR facilitates all kinds of addiction treatments, including drug and alcohol addiction. The technology is particularly effective in managing cravings like nicotine, sugar, food, and certain drugs. Healthcare professionals can use VR to create craving-inducing situations where patients can learn to control their cravings and implement them in real-life situations.
Involuntary neurological responses are crucial for the survival of any species. However, our reactions to these triggers need to be sharpened. This is possible when interventions happen at preconscious and conscious levels. Virtual reality can achieve this by immersing users in controlled environments that replace their sensory inputs and evoke various emotional and physiological states.
VR can help people with mental health issues like PTSD, depression, anxiety, etc, by providing a safe, simulated space to understand and address their distress. It can also relieve people with chronic pain by stimulating the brain areas responsible for blocking pain signals.
VR is becoming one of the most promising fields, although treatments based on this technology are only the tip of the iceberg. In the past year, VR in digital therapeutics has demonstrated promising results in pain management and mental health.
We can anticipate more advancements that will meet the evolving needs of the current healthcare system. The progress and expansion will propel VR treatments to further support the investment in this area.
To further experience the amazing effects of VR in digital therapeutics, make an appointment with experts at our JOGO Digital Therapeutics clinic in Chennai. There, you can experience painless treatments for chronic and acute ailments.
JOGO Health Private Limited,
1/1,11th Cross st., Shastri Nagar, Adyar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600020.