Title: Virtual Reality Hand Therapy Solutions
Funder: Department of Health and Social Care

Abstract: Background to the project There is a shortage of hand therapists with heavy demand for their services. As a result, waiting lists are long. Hand therapy is usually one-to-one between a patient and a therapist. Data about the patient s abilities and progress are recorded manually by the therapist. It is very difficult to conduct hand therapy remotely. Virtual reality has the potential to solve these problems. The patient wears a virtual reality headset which shows a virtual world linked to the patient s real world. The headset screen will show a virtual image of their hand. The patient can move their hand in real time and these movements will be copied exactly on the virtual hand. The machine records the patient s performance allowing the patient s progress to be monitored. Several patients can be treated at once. Therapy can also be carried out remotely. This allows more efficient use of the therapist s time as well reducing patient waiting lists. Aim of the project The aim of this twelve month project is to develop a virtual reality hand therapy solution. Design of the project The three main parts of this project are: Develop the virtual reality solution, with approximately five initial headset prototypes. Market research to define the potential route to market for the technology. A patient Feedback Forum to find out the acceptability of the technology. Patient and public involvement A patient with experience of hand therapy has been involved in this project from an early stage and has co-produced this funding application. He confirmed the importance and relevance of the research idea and will be central to the project s delivery given the focus on patient involvement. He will attend monthly project management meetings. He will be consulted throughout the product development process. Once the headsets have been developed, he will lead on the patient involvement part of the project. Feedback was also been obtained prior to the submission of this funding application from a pre-existing group of patient volunteers with experience of orthopaedic treatment including hand therapy. These seven individuals also confirmed the relevance of the project and input into the design of the project. During the project itself, volunteers with recent experience of hand therapy will be sought to form a further Feedback Forum. Through demonstrations with the headsets, topics for discussion will likely include their experiences, comfort and weight, ability to use, and overall acceptability of the technology. Sharing the findings The findings from the Feedback Forum will be presented at relevant conferences. These will be written up for a publication which will be made openly available. The patient co-applicant will co-author the publication and the findings will also be shared with the Feedback Forum.

Lay abstract: Background to the project There is a shortage of hand therapists with heavy demand for their services. As a result, waiting lists are long. Hand therapy is usually one-to-one between a patient and a therapist. Data about the patient s abilities and progress are recorded manually by the therapist. It is very difficult to conduct hand therapy remotely. Virtual reality has the potential to solve these problems. The patient wears a virtual reality headset which shows a virtual world linked to the patient s real world. The headset screen will show a virtual image of their hand. The patient can move their hand in real time and these movements will be copied exactly on the virtual hand. The machine records the patient s performance allowing the patient s progress to be monitored. Several patients can be treated at once. Therapy can also be carried out remotely. This allows more efficient use of the therapist s time as well reducing patient waiting lists. Aim of the project The aim of this twelve month project is to develop a virtual reality hand therapy solution. Design of the project The three main parts of this project are: Develop the virtual reality solution, with approximately five initial headset prototypes. Market research to define the potential route to market for the technology. A patient Feedback Forum to find out the acceptability of the technology. Patient and public involvement A patient with experience of hand therapy has been involved in this project from an early stage and has co-produced this funding application. He confirmed the importance and relevance of the research idea and will be central to the project s delivery given the focus on patient involvement. He will attend monthly project management meetings. He will be consulted throughout the product development process. Once the headsets have been developed, he will lead on the patient involvement part of the project. Feedback was also been obtained prior to the submission of this funding application from a pre-existing group of patient volunteers with experience of orthopaedic treatment including hand therapy. These seven individuals also confirmed the relevance of the project and input into the design of the project. During the project itself, volunteers with recent experience of hand therapy will be sought to form a further Feedback Forum. Through demonstrations with the headsets, topics for discussion will likely include their experiences, comfort and weight, ability to use, and overall acceptability of the technology. Sharing the findings The findings from the Feedback Forum will be presented at relevant conferences. These will be written up for a publication which will be made openly available. The patient co-applicant will co-author the publication and the findings will also be shared with the Feedback Forum.

Research activity codes: 5.7 PHYSICAL
Health categories: MUSCULOSKELETAL