I’m a very active person I love traveling I love doing a lot of sports
traveling I love doing a lot of sports
traveling I love doing a lot of sports like hiking swimming and and so on so
like hiking swimming and and so on so
like hiking swimming and and so on so that’s why I seven years ago I did a
that’s why I seven years ago I did a
that’s why I seven years ago I did a trip to the west coast of Ireland very
trip to the west coast of Ireland very
trip to the west coast of Ireland very beautiful very wild nature and so on so
beautiful very wild nature and so on so
beautiful very wild nature and so on so we were hiking there so I went back to
we were hiking there so I went back to
we were hiking there so I went back to work and then six months later I hear a
work and then six months later I hear a
work and then six months later I hear a sound and basically one second in one
sound and basically one second in one
sound and basically one second in one second my life changed completely from
second my life changed completely from
second my life changed completely from being very active as you can see on the
being very active as you can see on the
being very active as you can see on the left to being completely immobile after
left to being completely immobile after
left to being completely immobile after a work accident so I had a very heavy
a work accident so I had a very heavy
a work accident so I had a very heavy lamp construction that basically fell
lamp construction that basically fell
lamp construction that basically fell from the ceiling on my head
from the ceiling on my head
from the ceiling on my head and so basically they left me without
and so basically they left me without
and so basically they left me without balance for a very long time very
balance for a very long time very
balance for a very long time very isolated and losing the most important
isolated and losing the most important
isolated and losing the most important thing in my life my independence
thing in my life my independence
thing in my life my independence so this accident took me on a long rehab
so this accident took me on a long rehab
so this accident took me on a long rehab journey to get back to the person that I
journey to get back to the person that I
journey to get back to the person that I am today and this rehab journey often
am today and this rehab journey often
am today and this rehab journey often left me frustrated and demotivated in
left me frustrated and demotivated in
left me frustrated and demotivated in the way we have was being approached
the way we have was being approached
the way we have was being approached it’s very boring in the way current
it’s very boring in the way current
it’s very boring in the way current rehabilitation is being done it’s very
rehabilitation is being done it’s very
rehabilitation is being done it’s very repetitive not engaging also the access
repetitive not engaging also the access
repetitive not engaging also the access to rehab it’s it’s in the beginning you
to rehab it’s it’s in the beginning you
to rehab it’s it’s in the beginning you have Allah but then suddenly there is
have Allah but then suddenly there is
have Allah but then suddenly there is this you have much less access to rehab
this you have much less access to rehab
this you have much less access to rehab and then there is this gap where it’s
and then there is this gap where it’s
and then there is this gap where it’s very few and you actually still need a
very few and you actually still need a
very few and you actually still need a lot I’m an engineer myself biomedical
lot I’m an engineer myself biomedical
lot I’m an engineer myself biomedical engineer and so I wanted to find a
engineer and so I wanted to find a
engineer and so I wanted to find a solution to change that do going looking
solution to change that do going looking
solution to change that do going looking into different conditions having my own
into different conditions having my own
into different conditions having my own experience and then looking into
experience and then looking into
experience and then looking into different conditions such going from
different conditions such going from
different conditions such going from traumatic brain injury to stroke to
traumatic brain injury to stroke to
traumatic brain injury to stroke to spinal cord injury patients who in a lot
spinal cord injury patients who in a lot
spinal cord injury patients who in a lot of cases have either upper limb lower
of cases have either upper limb lower
of cases have either upper limb lower limb or both disabilities and when I was
limb or both disabilities and when I was
limb or both disabilities and when I was looking into those patients when we take
looking into those patients when we take
looking into those patients when we take for example stroke patients the mobility
for example stroke patients the mobility
for example stroke patients the mobility that they have that they gain after die
that they have that they gain after die
that they have that they gain after die rehabilitation is only 15 percent it’s
rehabilitation is only 15 percent it’s
rehabilitation is only 15 percent it’s only 15 person
only 15 person
only 15 person that those people gained back when they
that those people gained back when they
that those people gained back when they leave the hospital and a lot of that 15%
leave the hospital and a lot of that 15%
leave the hospital and a lot of that 15% they will actually lose again because
they will actually lose again because
they will actually lose again because there’s it’s a few more mobility
there’s it’s a few more mobility
there’s it’s a few more mobility basically to have an active life and so
basically to have an active life and so
basically to have an active life and so there is no follow-up rehab as well so
there is no follow-up rehab as well so
there is no follow-up rehab as well so there must be a way to change this 15%
there must be a way to change this 15%
there must be a way to change this 15% and a mechanism to actually give them
and a mechanism to actually give them
and a mechanism to actually give them back more of that mobility and there is
back more of that mobility and there is
back more of that mobility and there is one mechanism that can bring a solution
one mechanism that can bring a solution
one mechanism that can bring a solution and that is neuroplasticity and
and that is neuroplasticity and
and that is neuroplasticity and basically neuroplasticity is something
basically neuroplasticity is something
basically neuroplasticity is something that we use on a daily basis we use it
that we use on a daily basis we use it
that we use on a daily basis we use it to learn new things to learn a new
to learn new things to learn a new
to learn new things to learn a new movement for example and to make
movement for example and to make
movement for example and to make something inner to ourselves and let’s
something inner to ourselves and let’s
something inner to ourselves and let’s let’s so neuroplasticity what it is it’s
let’s so neuroplasticity what it is it’s
let’s so neuroplasticity what it is it’s basically it’s this amazing capacity of
basically it’s this amazing capacity of
basically it’s this amazing capacity of your brain to change and to adapt to
your brain to change and to adapt to
your brain to change and to adapt to interactions with the environment so for
interactions with the environment so for
interactions with the environment so for example the stroke patient that I was
example the stroke patient that I was
example the stroke patient that I was talking about earlier so when you when a
talking about earlier so when you when a
talking about earlier so when you when a person has a stroke part of your brain
person has a stroke part of your brain
person has a stroke part of your brain becomes damaged and this damaged part
becomes damaged and this damaged part
becomes damaged and this damaged part will affect a certain function whether
will affect a certain function whether
will affect a certain function whether it’s cognitive whether its physical so
it’s cognitive whether its physical so
it’s cognitive whether its physical so in a lot of cases part of the of the
in a lot of cases part of the of the
in a lot of cases part of the of the body of a stroke patient has been
body of a stroke patient has been
body of a stroke patient has been affected with some paralyzation and so
affected with some paralyzation and so
affected with some paralyzation and so we can actually this new plasticity that
we can actually this new plasticity that
we can actually this new plasticity that exists we can rewire retrain the brains
exists we can rewire retrain the brains
exists we can rewire retrain the brains that actually we can have an undamaged
that actually we can have an undamaged
that actually we can have an undamaged part of your brain take over that
part of your brain take over that
part of your brain take over that function again and reinstate that
function again and reinstate that
function again and reinstate that movement a connection between your brain
movement a connection between your brain
movement a connection between your brain and your motion I often compare it to
and your motion I often compare it to
and your motion I often compare it to there is it’s Wi-Fi connection between
there is it’s Wi-Fi connection between
there is it’s Wi-Fi connection between your brain and your arm and because of
your brain and your arm and because of
your brain and your arm and because of the stroke is being broken and we want
the stroke is being broken and we want
the stroke is being broken and we want to reinstall that Wi-Fi connection and
to reinstall that Wi-Fi connection and
to reinstall that Wi-Fi connection and so for these stroke patients for example
so for these stroke patients for example
so for these stroke patients for example what we want to offer them is really the
what we want to offer them is really the
what we want to offer them is really the ability to gain back more of that motion
ability to gain back more of that motion
ability to gain back more of that motion and more of that mobility and so that is
and more of that mobility and so that is
and more of that mobility and so that is where VR virtual reality really will
where VR virtual reality really will
where VR virtual reality really will make a difference because we can allow
make a difference because we can allow
make a difference because we can allow people such as stroke case and spinal
people such as stroke case and spinal
people such as stroke case and spinal cord injury patients with upper limb
cord injury patients with upper limb
cord injury patients with upper limb disabilities lower limb disabilities we
disabilities lower limb disabilities we
disabilities lower limb disabilities we give them the opportunity to engage with
give them the opportunity to engage with
give them the opportunity to engage with objects in the virtual world because of
objects in the virtual world because of
objects in the virtual world because of the high level of immersion as well
the high level of immersion as well
the high level of immersion as well in the physical world they will not even
in the physical world they will not even
in the physical world they will not even be able to pick up a pen because they
be able to pick up a pen because they
be able to pick up a pen because they one day like the strength and also they
one day like the strength and also they
one day like the strength and also they have lack of fine motor skills and that
have lack of fine motor skills and that
have lack of fine motor skills and that is currently an issue in physiotherapy
is currently an issue in physiotherapy
is currently an issue in physiotherapy because of that lack of being able to
because of that lack of being able to
because of that lack of being able to interact with objects they get really
interact with objects they get really
interact with objects they get really frustrated they tune out and they don’t
frustrated they tune out and they don’t
frustrated they tune out and they don’t achieve the number of repetitions that
achieve the number of repetitions that
achieve the number of repetitions that they should be achieving while going
they should be achieving while going
they should be achieving while going through the rehabilitation so with VR we
through the rehabilitation so with VR we
through the rehabilitation so with VR we can change that because we can give them
can change that because we can give them
can change that because we can give them a challenge an exercise they don’t think
a challenge an exercise they don’t think
a challenge an exercise they don’t think about the number of repetitions but they
about the number of repetitions but they
about the number of repetitions but they just do it they achieve the challenge
just do it they achieve the challenge
just do it they achieve the challenge and then another big problem currently
and then another big problem currently
and then another big problem currently with with rehabilitation is that on
with with rehabilitation is that on
with with rehabilitation is that on average the waiting time for these
average the waiting time for these
average the waiting time for these serious conditions is about three months
serious conditions is about three months
serious conditions is about three months before people move in move from the
before people move in move from the
before people move in move from the hospital they acute world into a rehab
hospital they acute world into a rehab
hospital they acute world into a rehab facility and having gone through rehab
facility and having gone through rehab
facility and having gone through rehab myself initially you’re very motivated
myself initially you’re very motivated
myself initially you’re very motivated because you knew what it was before and
because you knew what it was before and
because you knew what it was before and you want to get back there you want to
you want to get back there you want to
you want to get back there you want to be come back the active person that you
be come back the active person that you
be come back the active person that you were before and the independent person
were before and the independent person
were before and the independent person but then when you have you don’t have
but then when you have you don’t have
but then when you have you don’t have access to anything during three months
access to anything during three months
access to anything during three months basically become very demotivated again
basically become very demotivated again
basically become very demotivated again up to people get very depressed even
up to people get very depressed even
up to people get very depressed even worse people commit suicide and that is
worse people commit suicide and that is
worse people commit suicide and that is something that we need to tackle and we
something that we need to tackle and we
something that we need to tackle and we need to reduce that and that is where VR
need to reduce that and that is where VR
need to reduce that and that is where VR can really make a difference to really
can really make a difference to really
can really make a difference to really bring the rehab a lot quicker to
bring the rehab a lot quicker to
bring the rehab a lot quicker to patients so this is David Smith he’s a
patients so this is David Smith he’s a
patients so this is David Smith he’s a Paralympic athlete he was a gold
Paralympic athlete he was a gold
Paralympic athlete he was a gold medalist in 2012 for Great Britain and
medalist in 2012 for Great Britain and
medalist in 2012 for Great Britain and he’s also spinal cord injury patients so
he’s also spinal cord injury patients so
he’s also spinal cord injury patients so what he’s doing is using our VR we have
what he’s doing is using our VR we have
what he’s doing is using our VR we have platform where he’s immersed in a 3d
platform where he’s immersed in a 3d
platform where he’s immersed in a 3d environment and basically it’s based on
environment and basically it’s based on
environment and basically it’s based on the grasping method so he’s moving
the grasping method so he’s moving
the grasping method so he’s moving objects around and in this case he had
objects around and in this case he had
objects around and in this case he had three times spinal cord tumor three
three times spinal cord tumor three
three times spinal cord tumor three surgeries and three times paralyzed from
surgeries and three times paralyzed from
surgeries and three times paralyzed from the waist down and upper limb was
the waist down and upper limb was
the waist down and upper limb was affected as a stroke and as an athlete
affected as a stroke and as an athlete
affected as a stroke and as an athlete himself he was working constantly with
himself he was working constantly with
himself he was working constantly with visual stimulation and constantly
visual stimulation and constantly
visual stimulation and constantly working on recreating these neural
working on recreating these neural
working on recreating these neural pathways that had been damaged because a
pathways that had been damaged because a
pathways that had been damaged because a visual injury
visual injury
visual injury and working on that neuroplasticity to
and working on that neuroplasticity to
and working on that neuroplasticity to gain back his mobility and after about
gain back his mobility and after about
gain back his mobility and after about eight weeks he was already walking again
eight weeks he was already walking again
eight weeks he was already walking again and he still has his shoes in his upper
and he still has his shoes in his upper
and he still has his shoes in his upper limb but it has been tremendous and
limb but it has been tremendous and
limb but it has been tremendous and amazing to work with him to help develop
amazing to work with him to help develop
amazing to work with him to help develop the product as well so we are what what
the product as well so we are what what
the product as well so we are what what I’ve seen from the work and the work
I’ve seen from the work and the work
I’ve seen from the work and the work with with patients that have been
with with patients that have been
with with patients that have been affected by several conditions is that
affected by several conditions is that
affected by several conditions is that it can have tremendous impact on
it can have tremendous impact on
it can have tremendous impact on people’s health and people’s recovery
people’s health and people’s recovery
people’s health and people’s recovery and in terms of the current compared to
and in terms of the current compared to
and in terms of the current compared to the current rehabilitation in terms of
the current rehabilitation in terms of
the current rehabilitation in terms of longer engagement and increased motion
longer engagement and increased motion
longer engagement and increased motion the results have been have been
the results have been have been
the results have been have been impressive and I’ll take you through two
impressive and I’ll take you through two
impressive and I’ll take you through two cases that I’ve worked with so one of
cases that I’ve worked with so one of
cases that I’ve worked with so one of them was a male in his 20s he had a
them was a male in his 20s he had a
them was a male in his 20s he had a traumatic brain injury and a spinal cord
traumatic brain injury and a spinal cord
traumatic brain injury and a spinal cord injury as well and his current
injury as well and his current
injury as well and his current engagement with physiotherapy is one
engagement with physiotherapy is one
engagement with physiotherapy is one minute and he’s tuning out so he doesn’t
minute and he’s tuning out so he doesn’t
minute and he’s tuning out so he doesn’t want to do it anymore
want to do it anymore
want to do it anymore he’s very disengaged in the VR we have
he’s very disengaged in the VR we have
he’s very disengaged in the VR we have experience as you saw before he was in
experience as you saw before he was in
experience as you saw before he was in it for ten minutes he wanted to do it
it for ten minutes he wanted to do it
it for ten minutes he wanted to do it over and over again he was having fun he
over and over again he was having fun he
over and over again he was having fun he was really engaged the other patient
was really engaged the other patient
was really engaged the other patient that I worked with is a man in his 60s
that I worked with is a man in his 60s
that I worked with is a man in his 60s he just had a stroke a few weeks before
he just had a stroke a few weeks before
he just had a stroke a few weeks before and his one side was completely affected
and his one side was completely affected
and his one side was completely affected and in the current rehabilitation so the
and in the current rehabilitation so the
and in the current rehabilitation so the physio would ask him to move his arms
physio would ask him to move his arms
physio would ask him to move his arms without any engagement with objects
without any engagement with objects
without any engagement with objects there is this conviction installed in
there is this conviction installed in
there is this conviction installed in patient and I’ve seen it in several
patient and I’ve seen it in several
patient and I’ve seen it in several patients is that when you have something
patients is that when you have something
patients is that when you have something that is affected you might have
that is affected you might have
that is affected you might have experiences yourself as well you want to
experiences yourself as well you want to
experiences yourself as well you want to protect it and you don’t want to over
protect it and you don’t want to over
protect it and you don’t want to over like do the movement even though you can
like do the movement even though you can
like do the movement even though you can move your arm you will always try to
move your arm you will always try to
move your arm you will always try to protect it and he was convinced no I
protect it and he was convinced no I
protect it and he was convinced no I can’t move my arm that far and then when
can’t move my arm that far and then when
can’t move my arm that far and then when he was put in there so there’s some fear
he was put in there so there’s some fear
he was put in there so there’s some fear as well that is installed in the
as well that is installed in the
as well that is installed in the patients and so when he was put in the
patients and so when he was put in the
patients and so when he was put in the VR we have experienced this fear kind of
VR we have experienced this fear kind of
VR we have experienced this fear kind of went away we gave him a challenge and he
went away we gave him a challenge and he
went away we gave him a challenge and he that conviction as well that he couldn’t
that conviction as well that he couldn’t
that conviction as well that he couldn’t move his arm went away and he was moving
move his arm went away and he was moving
move his arm went away and he was moving his arm in a very safe way but much
his arm in a very safe way but much
his arm in a very safe way but much further than he was actually doing when
further than he was actually doing when
further than he was actually doing when he was just doing his rehab and so that
he was just doing his rehab and so that
he was just doing his rehab and so that was also really
was also really
was also really kind of that limiting believes that you
kind of that limiting believes that you
kind of that limiting believes that you cannot move because of its a very hard
cannot move because of its a very hard
cannot move because of its a very hard condition that you’re going through as
condition that you’re going through as
condition that you’re going through as well and the protection mechanism so
well and the protection mechanism so
well and the protection mechanism so giving back an increased motion range
giving back an increased motion range
giving back an increased motion range and helping them to get better was a
and helping them to get better was a
and helping them to get better was a really great result
really great result
really great result so VR VR is just I mean it’s just an
so VR VR is just I mean it’s just an
so VR VR is just I mean it’s just an amazing technology giving groundbreaking
amazing technology giving groundbreaking
amazing technology giving groundbreaking results already in health care and it
results already in health care and it
results already in health care and it will make a tremendous impact going
will make a tremendous impact going
will make a tremendous impact going further further whether it soon we have
further further whether it soon we have
further further whether it soon we have whether it’s mental health so it’s
whether it’s mental health so it’s
whether it’s mental health so it’s really important to embrace these new
really important to embrace these new
really important to embrace these new technologies to let people take charge
technologies to let people take charge
technologies to let people take charge of their own health and well-being and
of their own health and well-being and
of their own health and well-being and empower them because there’s nothing
empower them because there’s nothing
empower them because there’s nothing worse in not having any options so thank
worse in not having any options so thank
worse in not having any options so thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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