Terapia postural associada a ambientes virtuais imersivos para tratamento da escoliose

Abstract

This work presents an immersive Virtual Reality solution, combined with tracking devices and biomechanical tracking instruments, aimed at the treatment and prevention of scoliosis. The pathology is common and the symptoms tend to lead to complications. However, specific exercises can reduce a progression the curvatures and promote symmetry. Despite the proven effectiveness of non-invasive treatments for reducing symptoms and curvature, limitating aspects, as pain, stress and lack of motivation are closely related to traditional physical therapies. At the same time, the current technological scenario suggests favorable conditions to the development of modern solutions to improve traditional approaches for postural rehabilitation and minimization of factors that stimulate evasion of treatments that prevent or reduce the symptoms of scoliosis. A technological solution aligned to the interactive process was used for the therapeutic analysis of two corrective postures. To validate a proposal, two groups of students, from 11 to 13 years old, performed the proposed therapy in different contexts. The experimental group performed corrective postures used for postural training and physical conditioning with the device of visual immersion, while the control group had no technological assistance. When comparing the results of both groups after the sessions, significant differences were found between the compared groups. Thus, the new approach presented in this work, using visual stimulation and resources with specific devices, suggests that the technological proposal can be used by therapists to improve results of standard protocols for scoliosis treatment and prevention.