The Effect of Virtual Reality on Motivation and Muscle Contraction During Shoulder Flexion

Abstract

By Hannah Gifford, Health Sciences; Abby Schwarz, Heath Science

Advisor: Susan Kotowski

Presentation ID: AM_B46

Abstract: In today's age, many forms of medicine are turning to technology to aid in the advancement of treatment for patients. In a rehabilitation setting, one way to incorporate technology into treatment is using virtual reality or VR. The use of a VR headset could engross patients into a world that motivates them to complete their rehab treatments, while they can experience something that relates to their liking. Traditional use of VR would be for leisure, but creating a bridge between leisure and treatment could be groundbreaking in therapeutic recovery. The aim of this project was to determine if virtual reality increased a person's motivation to perform a rehabilitation exercise. Using an EMG machine and sensors connected to the lateral deltoid, the maximum voluntary contractions were established as a baseline for each participant. These readings were used to compare the contractions throughout three separate trails. These three trials involved three repetitions of a subject performing shoulder flexion. Two trials incorporated a VR video and headset, while another trial did not. With the VR headset, it is anticipated that the participants would perform higher contractions readings due to the motivation that the VR video provides them.