Presentation on the Use of Virtual Reality at the WINTER Forum on Trauma and Rehabilitation 2025

On 20–21 March 2025, we took part in the conference WINTER Forum on Trauma and Rehabilitation 2025, organised by KKN, a.s., the Janské Lázně State Therapeutic Spa (Státní léčebné lázně Janské Lázně, s.p.), the Institute of Clinical Rehabilitation of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Palacký University Olomouc, the Department of Paediatric Surgery and Traumatology of the Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, and the University Hospital Hradec Králové.

The Institute of Spa and Balneology was represented by Mgr. Magdaléna Vereskova, MSc. and Mgr. Alexandra Zachová Tichá, MBA, who presented not only our institute and the project Centrum lázeňského výzkumu (Spa Research Centre, CLV), but also delivered an expert lecture entitled “The Use of Virtual Reality Technology within Comprehensive Spa Therapeutic and Rehabilitation Care: An Objective Assessment of Patient Benefits”.

The presentation covered:

• Virtual reality as an innovative technology in physiotherapy, its practical applications, suitable diagnoses, examples of exercises and diagnostics, the main mechanisms of VR's effect on patients, and its benefits for healthcare staff.
• The possibilities of using VR in the spa sector and an objective assessment of its suitability and effectiveness within comprehensive spa care, based on the results of a pilot study carried out in cooperation with VR Medical.

The audience showed great interest in the topic, taking photographs and asking several questions during the discussion.

The conference programme focused mainly on upper limb traumatology in children, but lectures on physiotherapy were also included. Particularly interesting was the presentation by MUDr. Olšák on the therapy of spinal cord lesions using the AC-TIVE ENF and Unilexa methods, which offered an inspiring perspective on innovative approaches to rehabilitation. Our contribution thus fit perfectly into the conference's professional programme.

We are pleased to have had the opportunity to share our experience and contribute to the professional discussion on the possibilities of using modern technologies in rehabilitation and spa care.