VR therapy for multiple sclerosis.

Level Up Your Recovery: How Virtual Reality Can Transform Physical Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis

Beau Callahan in Health & Wellness June 2025 • 3 min read.

"Explore how virtual reality systems are revolutionizing physical therapy for multiple sclerosis, offering new hope for improved mobility and balance."

Multiple sclerosis (MS) presents numerous challenges, including progressive physical and cognitive impairments. Among these, difficulties with mobility and balance significantly impact daily life, affecting independence and overall well-being. Traditional physical therapy aims to address these issues, but its effectiveness can be limited by the artificial environment of a typical gym, which often fails to replicate real-world scenarios.

Enter virtual reality (VR), a technology that's rapidly changing how we approach rehabilitation. By creating immersive, interactive environments, VR offers a dynamic and engaging way to simulate real-life situations, allowing individuals with MS to practice and improve their motor skills in a safe and controlled setting. This innovative approach is showing promising results in enhancing gait and balance, potentially revolutionizing physical therapy for MS patients.

This article explores how VR systems enhance physical therapy for MS patients, leading to better outcomes in gait and balance compared to traditional methods.

VR vs. Traditional Physical Therapy: A Head-to-Head Comparison

A study published in the International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation investigated the feasibility and effectiveness of using a Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN) system—an advanced VR platform—compared to traditional physical therapy for individuals with MS. The study aimed to determine if VR-based therapy could offer a safe and more effective alternative for improving gait and balance.

The study retrospectively analyzed data from 62 MS patients who had undergone physical therapy, either using the CAREN system or through traditional methods. The researchers examined several functional outcome measures, including the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW), and 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT). These tests assessed various aspects of balance, mobility, and endurance.

The study focused on:

Feasibility and safety of using the CAREN system for MS patients.
Changes in pre- and post-treatment outcomes compared to traditional therapy.
Improvement in balance, mobility and endurance.

The results revealed significant within-group improvements in all outcome measures for the VR group. In contrast, the traditional physical therapy group showed significant improvement only in the Berg Balance Scale. Notably, the VR group exhibited a statistically significant advantage in the Timed 25-Foot Walk, indicating improved walking speed compared to the traditional therapy group. No safety concerns were reported with the CAREN system, suggesting it is a safe and well-tolerated option.

The Future of MS Rehabilitation: Embracing Virtual Reality

The study's findings suggest that VR-based physical therapy, particularly using systems like CAREN, holds considerable promise for enhancing rehabilitation outcomes in individuals with multiple sclerosis. The immersive and interactive nature of VR can provide a more engaging and effective training environment, leading to improved gait, balance, and overall mobility. As technology advances and VR systems become more accessible, we can expect to see even wider adoption of this innovative approach in MS rehabilitation, ultimately improving the quality of life for those living with this challenging condition.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.12968/ijtr.2018.25.10.522, Alternate LINK

Title: Effects And Feasibility Of Virtual Reality System Vs Traditional Physical Therapy Training In Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Subject: Rehabilitation

Journal: International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation

Publisher: Mark Allen Group

Authors: Matthew C Streicher, Jay L Alberts, Matthew H Sutliff, Francois Bethoux

Published: 2018-10-02

Everything You Need To Know

How does virtual reality enhance physical therapy for people living with multiple sclerosis?

Virtual reality (VR) offers an immersive and interactive environment that simulates real-life situations, allowing individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) to practice and improve their motor skills in a safe and controlled setting. Traditional physical therapy, while beneficial, often takes place in artificial environments like gyms, which may not adequately replicate the challenges of daily living. VR addresses this limitation by providing dynamic scenarios that enhance gait, balance, and overall mobility more effectively. This approach can lead to more engaging and effective rehabilitation outcomes for MS patients.

What study compared VR-based therapy to traditional physical therapy for MS patients, and what measures were used?

The *International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation* study compared outcomes of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients undergoing physical therapy using the Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN) system, a VR platform, with those undergoing traditional physical therapy. Researchers used functional outcome measures like the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW), and 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) to assess balance, mobility, and endurance. The study aimed to determine if VR-based therapy could be a safe and more effective alternative for improving gait and balance compared to traditional methods.

What specific improvements were observed in the virtual reality group compared to the traditional therapy group in the study?

The *International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation* study revealed that the VR group, utilizing the Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN) system, showed significant improvements across all outcome measures, including balance, mobility, and endurance. In contrast, the traditional physical therapy group only showed significant improvement in the Berg Balance Scale. The VR group also demonstrated a statistically significant advantage in the Timed 25-Foot Walk, indicating improved walking speed. These findings suggest that VR-based therapy can lead to more comprehensive improvements in physical function for individuals with multiple sclerosis compared to traditional methods.

Are there any safety concerns when using VR systems like CAREN for physical therapy in multiple sclerosis patients?

The *International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation* study reported no safety concerns associated with the Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN) system for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). This finding suggests that VR-based physical therapy is not only effective but also a safe and well-tolerated option for MS patients. The safety of such interventions is crucial for widespread adoption in rehabilitation settings. The fact that the CAREN system was deemed safe reinforces the potential of VR as a viable and beneficial therapeutic tool.

How might the use of virtual reality in physical therapy evolve to improve the lives of individuals with multiple sclerosis?

Virtual reality (VR) has the potential to greatly enhance rehabilitation outcomes for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) by providing an engaging and effective training environment. As VR technology advances and systems like the Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN) become more accessible, it is expected that VR will be more widely adopted in MS rehabilitation. This can lead to improved gait, balance, and overall mobility, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for those living with MS. However, it's important to consider the scalability and cost-effectiveness of VR systems to ensure they can be implemented in various clinical settings and made available to a broader range of patients. Future research should also focus on personalizing VR interventions to meet the specific needs of each individual with MS.