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- Virtual reality interventions to improve function after strokePublication . Pereira, Miguel; Oliveira, Patrícia; Gomes, Manuela; Fernandes, Ângela; Portugal, Paula; Coelho, TiagoStroke is the most common neurological disease and one of the most common fatal diseases in the world. Stroke patients suffer from several physical, cognitive, and sensory complications that impact their functionality and independence in daily activities and, consequently, can reduce their quality of life. Given this impact, it is important to assess the various ways to ensure effective and satisfactory rehabilitation for the stroke person. Virtual reality has been proven in recent times as a promising tool in stroke motor rehabilitation, being effective with its immersive elements and, at the same time, motivating patients. With all this in mind, this chapter aimed to analyze the current scientific evidence of Virtual Reality intervention for functional rehabilitation of stroke patients.
- Promoting reminiscences with virtual reality: feasibility study with people with dementiaPublication . Coelho, Tiago; Marques, Cátia; Moreira, Daniela; Soares, Maria; Portugal, Paula; Marques, AntónioThis study aimed to examine the feasibility of promoting reminiscences with people with dementia, using 360° videos presented with virtual reality headsets. Four individual sessions were conducted with nine people with dementia. Average duration of the exposure was approximately ten minutes. The experience appeared to be pleasant for most of the participants (with the exception of one of the participants who reported visual limitations). Most participants shared positive memories while viewing the recordings. None of the participants experienced any significant increase in symptoms associated with nausea and disorientation.
- Virtual reality therapy: the power of role-playing social skillsPublication . Soutelo, Ana Paula; Sousa, Ana Rita; Monteiro, Maria Luís; Fernandes, Ângela; Coelho, Tiago; Portugal, PaulaRole-play (RP) is a technique for teaching communication and training interpersonal skills, known for its effective way of transmitting learning, in which simulation is one of its main distinguishing features. Social skills, moreover, are behaviors that involve the interpersonal relationship carried out in each social context. Although social skills training is consensually considered one of the most beneficial approaches to improving social functioning in individuals with mental illness, long-term motivation deficits diminish its effectiveness. Virtual reality technology effectively solves the motivation problem, providing a realistic and immersive experience that allows for role-playing of social skills. They provide presence and allow individuals to practice and enhance their social skills. The benefits of both RP and VR technology are clear, and the combination of the two has even greater potential. However, there is still a limited amount of research on the impact of VR in the practice of RP, so further investigation is crucial.
- Immersive Environment for Occupational Therapy: Pilot StudyPublication . Rodrigues, José; Coelho, Tiago; Menezes, Paulo; Restivo, Maria TeresaThere has been increasing interest in the application of virtual reality (VR) to occupational therapy and rehabilitation fields. This work presents a VR-based city adventure framework designed for occupational therapy. Its concept is based on taking the user to travel around a virtual city, where the motion is powered by the execution of some type of physical exercise, namely cycling in the current example. This framework is extensible and may integrate different goals focused on improving/maintaining motor and cognitive skills necessary for daily activities, mainly through upper and lower limb exercises and mental challenges. This led to the development of an immersive system, which was tested with an elderly sample (15 participants) in a day center and at a retirement home. Usability, satisfaction, performance and side effects were evaluated to understand future applicability and work directions.
- Promoting reminiscences with virtual reality headsets: A pilot study with people with dementiaPublication . Coelho, Tiago; Marques, Cátia; Moreira, Daniela; Soares, Maria; Portugal, Paula; da Silva Marques, António; Ferreira, Ana Rita; Martins, SóniaThis study aimed to explore the feasibility and effects of promoting reminiscences, using virtual reality (VR) headsets for viewing 360° videos with personal relevance, with people with dementia. A study with a mixed methods design was conducted with nine older adults diagnosed with dementia. Interventions consisted of four sessions, in which the participants’ engagement, psychological and behavioral symptoms, and simulation sickness symptoms were evaluated. Neuropsychiatric symptomatology and quality of life were measured pre- and post-intervention. Caregivers were interviewed regarding the effect of the approach. In most cases, participants appeared to enjoy the sessions, actively explored the 360° environment, and shared memories associated with the depicted locations, often spontaneously.