Capitol Lakes Using 3D Gaming Virtual Rehabilitation Therapy
Capitol Lakes, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in downtown Madison, WI, is now using the world’s only virtual rehabilitation system specifically designed for seniors and people with limited physical abilities. Capitol Lakes is proud to be 1 of the first retirement communities in the U.S. to implement the new OmniVR™ Virtual Rehabilitation System in its Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
It is also the very first in Wisconsin to use this technology.
Developed by Accelerated Care Plus (ACP), a Reno-based rehabilitation technology and education company, the OmniVR Virtual Rehabilitation System is unique in the industry. The Nintendo® Wii™ and Wii Fit™ have been used to help people improve balance and range-of-motion; however, these products are targeted to higher functioning individuals and often are not appropriate for seniors.
OmniVR is the only virtual solution that provides an opportunity for seniors and people with limited physical capabilities to participate in the benefits of virtual rehabilitation.
“Through visual feedback and a fun exercise program, the residents and locals we serve in our Skilled Nursing and Rehab Center gain skill and confidence and return to their homes more quickly,” says Josh Knops, a Capitol Lakes physical therapist.
The OmniVR system implemented by Capitol Lakes offers six different rehabilitation programs appropriate for the entire spectrum of aging adults, from very frail to independent.
The gaming system includes an innovative, three-dimensional camera that captures the resident’s image and places it in a virtual exercise environment. The resident and therapist view the progress on a large color monitor. By exercising in a game-like environment, patients are more likely to exercise harder and longer.
On multiple occasions, people that had previously lost interest in improving their health have found a renewed interest, hope, and inspiration through the OmniVR system. Results are faster and more significant, partly due to the sense of camaraderie and competition fostered while playing the games.
Residents forget that they are participating in rigorous physical therapy, and tend to enjoy the activities daily without losing interest.