– Karuna Labs, creator of personalized functional restoration and chronic pain management programs using virtual reality (VR) technology, is available to patients through workers’ compensation insurance.
– Karuna Labs’ Virtual Embodiment Therapy will increase adherence to physical therapy and focus on exercises performed in daily living to improve quality of life.
Virtual Reality (VR) technology is now being integrated workers comp injuries in order to alleviate chronic pain and improve range of motion. Announced today, Karuna Labs, creator of personalized functional restoration and chronic pain management programs using virtual reality (VR) technology, is available to patients through workers’ compensation insurance to increase adherence to physical therapy and focus on exercises performed in daily living to improve quality of life.
Impact of Workers Injured on the Job
According to the National Safety Council, a worker is injured on the job every seven seconds, with chronic pain as one of the most-common complaints. It’s no secret a significant percentage of the workforce in the United States is living with chronic pain – 15 percent of working adults reported having pain for the past six months, according to a 2017 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Virtual Reality Retrains The Brain to Perceive Movement As Non-Threatening
Karuna Labs utilizes the VR experience to increase adherence to physical therapy and focuses on exercises performed in daily living to improve quality of life. The sessions retrain the brain to perceive movement as non-threatening, increasing adherence to the treatment plan and, ultimately, improving range of motion over time. This immersive VR experience offers a new option in light of current challenges with traditional treatment options like surgery or pills.
Virtual Embodiment Therapy Overview
Karuna Labs’ Virtual Embodiment TherapyTM technology applies the following:
– Graded Motor Imagery (GMI), the most up to date rehabilitation approach that combines therapeutic exercise with visual stimulation, in VR
– Corrective exercises from physical therapy
– Therapeutic neuroscience education
– Real-time position tracking
The program can help treat chronic conditions commonly caused at the workplace, including low back pain and shoulder pain. Karuna Labs is currently available at pain management clinics around the country and through clinical trials. Additionally, Karuna Labs will be releasing Karuna Home, the at-home version of its Virtual Embodiment Training in 2020.
