Finding hope after tragedy through virtual reality: Emily’s story

(BPT) – In June 2023, an electrical house fire in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, set Emily Dorsheimer, 53, on a difficult health journey. She suffered severe burns to her leg, face and hands in the fire. Little did she know virtual reality (VR) would play an important part in her healing.Recovery in the hospital was arduous, as Emily endured multiple surgeries. After a month-long stay in the burn unit, half of it spent in a medically induced coma, Emily and her family were relieved and thankful she made it through. But they had to prepare for a long road of rehabilitation.Emily had to relearn how to walk, talk and carry out activities of daily living like getting herself dressed and eating. Her legs were too weak to stand, and she could barely speak. She was admitted for in-patient therapy at AristaCare Meadow Springs, an acute rehabilitation facility in Pennsylvania, for the specialized care she needed so that she could return home and live independently.It would be a challenging path to recovery, but Emily had a top-notch team of clinicians, her strong sense of perseverance and an unexpected yet powerful tool to help along the way: an immersive rehabilitation platform called the REAL y-Series.Recovery with engaging immersive technologyThe REAL y-Series by Penumbra is a rehabilitation tool for physical, occupational, speech and recreation therapists to utilize with patients with a variety of rehabilitation goals. Patients who have utilized REAL System include those recovering from stroke, spinal cord injuries, phantom limb pain, orthopaedic injuries and others. REAL y-Series combines virtual reality and full body motion tracking technology with clinically designed activities and progress tracking to keep patients engaged and motivated throughout therapy.[i]Tim Bullis, director of rehab at AristaCare Meadow Springs, said REAL “gives (therapists) a lot more variety and variability with treatments” and provides a controlled environment for therapists to track progress.Patients wear a VR headset and six sensors, to be fully immersed in an engaging, virtual world. Activities like Sandwich Shop™ transport them to a deli where they prepare sandwich orders, honing their memory and cognitive skills to put together different combinations of bread, meat, cheese, and veggies. In Creative Canvas™, patients embrace their inner artist. They paint masterpieces with arm movements that exercise their reach and build strength to control their torso and core.Emily was skeptical when first introduced to the REAL y-Series in her therapy plan. But she was excited and impressed to find, that as she progressed through her therapy sessions with REAL y-Series, her balance improved, and she was able to walk longer distances. “As I was getting into it,” Emily said, “and learning balance, kicking and playing pinball, all the activities that are in (REAL) really helped.” She worked up a sweat as she improved her motor skills and regained her independence, advancing further and faster than she would have through traditional rehab alone.REAL Pinball™ was one of Emily’s favorite activities as it helped her develop functional movement and balance. By staying engaged and excited with VR, Emily said she “came a long way in a short amount of time.” Emily and her therapists tracked and quantified her progress through automated progress measures collected from the sensors worn during the session. The insights on the TherapyView tablet gave Emily and her therapist objective session measures to help inform her therapy plan.Triumphing over challengeEmily was discharged from AristaCare Meadow Springs in January 2024 and was eager to get back to what she loves most: spending time with her husband, trying out new restaurants and shopping.”At first, I didn’t think I could get back to being out in the world doing everyday activities,” Emily said. “But now I am.”Across the U.S., hospitals and rehabilitation facilities are embracing the power of immersive healthcare experiences like the REAL y-Series to help patients recover faster from life-changing injuries and conditions. Balance assessment and objective patient progress measures on the REAL y-Series allow therapists to quantify and monitor patient progress over their sessions.To schedule a demonstration of REAL or learn more about the life-changing impact of VR, visit the REAL System website.Consents on file at Penumbra, Inc. Procedural and operative techniques and considerations are illustrative examples from healthcare provider experience. Healthcare providers’ treatment and technique decisions will vary based on their medical judgment and other factors. The opinions and clinical experiences presented herein are for informational purposes only. The results may not be predictive for all patients. Individual results may vary depending on patient-specific attributes.Caution: Federal (USA) law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a healthcare provider. Prior to use, please refer to the Instructions for Use (IFU) for complete product indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, potential adverse events, and detailed instructions for use. Please click here for the complete IFU https://www.realsystem.com/usermanual/. Please contact your local REAL Territory Manager for more information.[i] Data on file