The Village at Marymount's New Virtual Reality Therapy Gets Residents Back In The Game

Linda Kolin of Bedford recently had knee replacement surgery. She wasn’t looking forward to the rehabilitation process until she learned that it involved virtual reality therapy – a video game of sorts – with her body.

The Village at Marymount’s new Parker Hannifin Therapy and Wellness Center, which added 4,000 square feet of space to the therapy department’s footprint, incorporates GestureTek Health’s new interactive virtual reality exercise system called IREX. The Village at Marymount is the only facility in Ohio using the IREX system.

IREX is a computer generated virtual reality therapy world that guides patients through interactive rehabilitation exercises, games, and activities that target specific body parts. The performance of each patient is measured and recorded to show improvement after each play.

Dan Storey, The Village at Marymount’s administrator, said the $20,000 system includes a camera, projector, computer, and green screen. The system and recorded data have shown this type of therapy can help to improve balance, strength, endurance, and speed when compared to traditional therapy.

“This system makes therapy more fun,” said Kolin, now attending outpatient therapy sessions at The Village at Marymount. “It motivates you to attend therapy sessions.”

Laura Shopp, Director of Rehabilitative Services, said the Parker Hannifin Therapy and Wellness Center also offers an innovative virtual reality interactive system design to help patients recover from cognitive and motor deficits, whether caused by stroke, traumatic brain injury, or by chronic and progressive neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.

“We take great pride in giving back to the community, and the latest way we have done so is through our new therapy and wellness center,” Shopp said.

The Village at Marymount’s therapy services include orthopedics, neurologic and cardiopulmonary rehab, workers’ compensation, geriatrics, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and neck, vestibular issues, pain management, fall prevention, and therapy seven days a week.

“Our new state of the art gym provides usage modalities as well as a virtual reality therapy gym,” Shopp said. “We take pride in our contribution to the community. When it is time for you to return home, we ensure your safety with a detailed community reintegration program and a thorough home evaluation.”